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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Luistro panel to observe 'independence, impartiality' in Marcos impeachment hearings

Luistro panel to observe 'independence, impartiality' in Marcos impeachment hearings

Published Jan 27, 2026 07:08 pm

At A Glance

  • The House Committee on Justice--the panel tasked to hear the impeachment complaints against President Marcos--will "act with utmost independence and impartiality" on the matter.
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)
Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (PPAB)


The House Committee on Justice--the panel tasked to hear the impeachment complaints against President Marcos--will "act with utmost independence and impartiality" on the matter.
“I am expecting the entire justice committee to act with utmost independence and impartiality. The members of the House are expected to evaluate, assess and hear the impeachment complaint with utmost independence and impartiality,” Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro, panel chairperson, said in a chance interview with reporters Tuesday, Jan. 27.
According to the lawyer-solon, the committee’s task is evidence-based and procedural; it begins with the determination of sufficiency in form and substance before any hearing on the complaints' merits.
He says the justice panel is guided by evidence and constitutional duty—not by public pronouncements or political pressure.
Luistro also expressed confidence that the committee has the capacity to hear more than one impeachment case if required under the Constitution, including cases involving different impeachable officials.
The militant Makabayan bloc, which endorsed one of the two impeachment raps filed against President Marcos, also plans to purse a new impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“In the event that this impeachment complaint by the Makabayan group is indeed filed and referred to the justice committee, we have no other option but to receive the same and evaluate the same and hear the impeachment complaint,” Luistro said.
“The reason is this is a constitutional mandate that we really have to face. It does not depend on our desire, it does not depend on our availability, it does not depend on our preference. It is a mandate that we really have to address," she explained.
The Batangueña attested that the 38 members of the justice committee "have the necessary skills, knowledge, and background to take care of these two impeachment complaints".
“So I am confident that we can hear both impeachment complaints using proper strategies. Under the rules, yes,” Luistro said.
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