Speaker Dy, Makabayan hold dialogue on Marcos impeach complaints
MANILA, Philippines — Complainants behind the second impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., along with Makabayan bloc lawmakers and other majority lawmakers, held a dialogue with House Speaker Bojie Dy before the plenary session resumed on Monday, January 26.
Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-List) said the complaint, filed earlier in the day, had been transmitted to the Speaker’s office, and that Dy confirmed he had requested its inclusion in the Order of Business.
"We were informed by the Speaker himself this afternoon that he has received our complaint from the Secretary General and that he has asked that it be included in the Order of Business," Tinio said.
This provides some assurance that the second complaint could be referred to the justice committee alongside the first, which was transmitted to the Speaker’s office a day after it was filed.
Critics earlier warned that the first complaint, which many House leaders consider weak, could be fast-tracked to the justice committee simply to prevent stronger complaints from being filed.
None of the impeachment complaints, however, were listed in the Order of Business for the House's 23rd session, according to the document published on Congress' website. The agenda also showed that the complaints will not be tackled on January 26.
The Committee on Rules, however, reportedly held a third special meeting on Monday at the Andaya Hall to include both impeachment complaints in the Order of Business.
Under House rules, impeachment complaints must be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days of receipt. Session days can extend beyond a single calendar day and do not correspond directly to 24-hour periods. Once it is included in the Order of Business, it must be referred to the appropriate panel within three session days.
This means the complaints could be taken up in plenary and referred to the justice committee in the weeks that follow, provided the referral occurs within the prescribed timeline.
Marcos currently faces two impeachment complaints over alleged systematic corruption, including a kickback scheme, the flood control scandal, and unprogrammed appropriations that complainants say violate the Constitution and betray public trust.
- Latest
- Trending
