No House endorser, no action on impeach raps–Luistro
Impeachment complaints filed by private individuals will not move forward in the House of Representatives unless they are formally endorsed by at least one lawmaker—a requirement that could determine whether any additional complaints against President Marcos could even reach the Office of the Speaker.
This is according to House committee on justice chair and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, who on Saturday sought to clarify the impeachment process now that Mr. Marcos was facing his first ever complaint since assuming office in 2022.
In a news forum in Quezon City, Luistro stressed that without a House lawmaker sponsor, any complaint filed by private complainants will not be transmitted by the Office of the Secretary General (OSG) to the Speaker, effectively halting the process at the filing stage.
“It is not my intention really to preempt the discussion of the sufficiency in form … But I can speak on the rules that by form, it has to be supported by a House member, signed by private individuals and verified by an authorized officer,” Luistro said.
Sponsorship
She did not name names but a group of former politicians and lawyers led by former Ilocos Norte Gov. Chavit Singson and former Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor attempted to file what would have been the third impeachment complaint against Mr. Marcos.
The OSG, however, turned them away on Thursday as its head, Cheloy Velicaria Garafil, was in Taipei to receive a civilian award from Taiwan’s foreign affairs ministry.
The group did not come with any endorsing lawmaker, although Defensor claimed “at least three lawmakers” already vowed to endorse them if they continued their filing.
“Just like any other bill, it must be sponsored by at least a member of the House,” Luistro said. “In other words, if this is filed by a private individual and there is no House member who sponsors it, it will not be transmitted to the Office of the Speaker.
The Batangas lawmaker, meantime, declined to comment on whether it was proper for the OSG not to accept the Defensor-Singson complaint and that of the progressive Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) that was to be endorsed by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co.
Both complaints cite betrayal of public trust in Mr. Marcos’ handling of the national budgets since he took office as well as the multibillion flood control scandal now hounding its office as grounds for impeachment.
“We cannot comment again on that issue because I am inclined to believe that it falls squarely in her discretion as to how she would discharge her function and power in as far as receiving these impeachment complaints are concerned,” Luistro said.
Structured system
She also assured the public that the justice committee has not yet received any official copies of the impeachment complaints mentioned publicly amid concerns that the first complaint filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus on Jan. 19 was being railroaded to preempt more serious complaints and trigger the one-year bar rule.
However, the lawmaker stressed that the House rules clearly outline the requirements for a complaint to be considered properly filed.
Following the Constitution, a verified impeachment complaint is first submitted to the OSG and immediately referred to the Speaker.
The Speaker must include the complaint in the order of business within 10 session days; then, within three session days of being on the agenda, it must be referred to the justice committee.
Once an impeachment complaint is received by the justice committee, it would shut the door on other complaints and trigger the one-year bar to other complaints against the same impeachable official. The Supreme Court cited this rule when it nullified the impeachment of Vice President.
