MANILA — House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos cannot prevent the impeachment complaint filed against his father, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., from being referred to the House Committee on Justice, a committee official said Monday, January 19.

In a report, Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd District), vice chair of the justice panel, said the House rules are “clear-cut” on the matter. Once a complaint is included in the Order of Business, it must be referred to the Committee on Justice within three session days.

“So even if he is the majority leader, and even if the impeachable officer that is complained of is his father, wala siyang magagawa,” Flores said.

Sandro Marcos also chairs the House Committee on Rules, which traditionally oversees all House rules, including referrals, congressional probes, and impeachment proceedings. Flores emphasized, however, that the Constitution and House rules mandate the referral, leaving no discretion for the majority leader to block it.

The first impeachment complaint against President Marcos, filed Monday by lawyer Andres de Jesus and endorsed by Rep. Jett Nisay (Pusong Pinoy Party-list), cites culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The complaint also raises issues including:

• The arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court
• Allegations of illegal drug use
• Failure to veto unprogrammed appropriations since 2023
• Alleged kickbacks in infrastructure projects
• Creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), allegedly to shield corrupt allies

Flores said that if additional complaints are filed, the justice committee will decide which, if any, are sufficient in form and substance to proceed. Consolidation of complaints is possible only if allowed by the rules and agreed upon by complainants.

However, once the first impeachment complaint is formally referred and initiated, other complaints cannot proceed within the same year due to the one-year bar rule.

Flores added that the House may still review its impeachment rules to align with the Supreme Court’s July 2025 ruling on due process and initiation of proceedings.

“But if there’s one thing clear, it’s that Sandro, whether as House majority leader or as the president’s son, must allow the impeachment complaint against his father to reach the justice committee for review,” he said.