Congress resumes 1st regular session
The 20th Congress of the Philippines is set to officially resume its first regular session today with two impeachment complaints against President Marcos and a blue ribbon investigation of corruption in public works projects pending in both chambers.
In the House of Representatives, its committee on justice, tasked to look into the form and substance of the complaints, has not acted on the two complaints, which were both filed earlier this month.
The first complaint was filed on Jan. 19 by lawyer Andres de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jett Nisay on charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
On Jan. 22, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) filed the second complaint to the Office of the House Secretary General, but it has not been submitted to the justice committee because Secretary General Cheloy Garafil was out of the country.
The Senate is also expected to move into its new building in Taguig City this year.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the body may also reopen the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte if the Supreme Court grants a pending appeal from the House.
The House impeached Duterte last February for misuse of about P600 million in government monies, but the Supreme Court junked the articles of impeachment because of defects in the process. The high court is still considering the House’s motion for reconsideration.
“If they (Supreme Court) will grant the [appeal], it means that we will be going back to the impeachment process. It means that the impeachment complaint archived in the Senate can be reinstated,” Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said in a media forum over the weekend.
Without ruling on the substance of the impeachment complaint, the high court barred any attempt to file a case against Duterte until Feb. 6 and ruled that the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction of a new impeachment complaint until after that date.
Sotto, however, said the Senate also has a host of pending legislation, including a proposal (Senate Bill No. 1667) to amend Republic Act No. 3591 to strengthen the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. and enhance the country’s framework for bank liquidations.
The House, under Speaker Bodjie Dy, has passed the 2026 General Appropriations Act, but has yet to decide on disciplinary measures on two young legislators over disorderly conduct and ownership of energy firms subject to congressional franchise.
