A ranking House member expressed confidence that Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos would be able to separate his role as majority leader from being the presidential son amid the filing of impeachment complaints against his father, President Marcos.

"Ako naman (As for me), based on my observation when closely working with the majority leader, kaya naman niya i-categorize, compartmentalize ang kanyang trabaho bilang (he can categorize, compartmentalize his job as) majority leader from that [of] being the presidential son," Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said in an interview Wednesday afternoon.

"We have to rise above personal preferences and personal interests and that's whay I saw from how the majority leader perform his job, his duty...he can compartmentalize," added Adiong, an assistant majority leader.

Rep. Marcos--the concurrent chairman of the powerful Committee on Rules--plays a crucial role in the impeachment process in the House of Representatives. This is because the rules panel is tasked to refer a verified and duly-endorsed impeachment complaint to the Committee on Justice--a move that formally "initiates" impeachment proceedings against an impeachable officer.

In this case, that impeachable officer is his own father, President Marcos. Lawyer Andre de Jesus filed the first ever impeachment complaint against the Chief Executive on Monday, Jan. 21.

Deputy Minority Leader Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jett Nisay endorsed the document, which cited three grounds (culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption) spread across six specific allegations.

Adiong believes that Rep. Marcos, his fellow "Young Guns" bloc member would be able to fulfill his duty as majority leader despite the attempts to unseat his father through the constitutional process of impeachment.

"First and foremost he has to act his duty eh, that's his primordial concern as a majority leader. I know, I understand it's difficult. But I believe, what I understand based on what I witnessed how majority leader performed his duties--first and foremost, the primordial concern is to really push important legislation."

Meanwhile, Adiong said it's up to the younger Marcos to decide whether or not he would participate in the justice committee's deliberation on the impeachment complaint. He said House rules do not require Rep. Marcos to inhibit.

"I guess ang majority leader lang naman is isang boto (the majority leader carries only one vote), should he decide--that's his option eh--should he decide to participate in the deliberation. It's just one vote. He does not carry with him the vote of all members especially the majority, the Mindanaoan said.

"So it's still subject to the individual appreciation of the members. So that would be his option," noted Adiong.

Rep. Marcos, 31, is an ex-officio member of the justice panel, which decides whether or not an impeachment rap is sufficient in both form and substance.