House justice panel defers Marcos impeachment vote

After nearly three hours of deliberation on the five impeachment grounds filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the House Committee on Justice on Tuesday deferred voting on whether the complaint is sufficient in form to Wednesday, 4 February 2026.

The deferral was announced by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House justice panel, following a hearing that began at 10 a.m.

Luistro said committee members agreed to postpone the vote to allow further consideration of issues raised during deliberations, including the authenticity of attachments to the impeachment complaint. She noted that the committee earlier voted 24-21 on questions related to authentication.

“We have significant discussions for us to substantiate which constitute grounds for impeachment, the need for authenticity, personal knowledge, allegations of facts,” Luistro said.

She added that lawmakers need time to determine whether the complaint filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus, and endorsed by Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay of the Pusong Pinoy party-list, who serves as deputy minority leader, is sufficient in substance.

Luistro also said the committee will first hear the second impeachment complaint filed by the Makabayan bloc, led by Reps. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Renee Louise Co (Kabataan), and Sarah Elago (Gabriela).

The Makabayan lawmakers were joined by former Bayan Muna representatives Teddy Casiño and Neri Colmenares, former Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza, former ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro, and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan President Renato Reyes, among others.

The group said its impeachment complaint goes beyond alleged betrayal of public trust, framing the issue as systemic corruption reaching the highest levels of government.

The Makabayan-led complaint cites three articles of impeachment: institutionalizing systemic corruption and patronage; abuse of discretionary power over unprogrammed appropriations; and alleged direct personal involvement in kickback schemes.

Luistro said the committee will vote on the Makabayan complaint after deliberations are completed.

She described the discussions as exhaustive, prompting members to seek more time before deciding how to vote.

The first impeachment complaint accuses the President of ordering and enabling the alleged kidnapping and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court; alleged drug addiction that impairs judgment and leadership; failure to veto unprogrammed appropriations and other unconstitutional provisions in the General Appropriations Acts of 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026; allegedly benefiting from kickbacks linked to budget insertions and ghost flood control projects; and creating the ICI to shield allies accused of corruption.