The House of Representatives will move to amend its impeachment rules in line with the 1987 Constitution, stressing that the revisions are not being made because of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor, chairperson of the committee rewriting the House Rules, said his concern lies in what he described as the Supreme Court’s intrusion into the House’s internal processes—particularly in defining what constitutes a “session day.”
“It bothers me that they are dictating how we interpret our session days. It bothers me that they are suggesting how we should proceed with the impeachment referral, especially if impeachment complaints endorsed by all members of the House of Representatives. Hindi na dapat sina-suggest ng Supreme Court, kahit iginagalang natin sila, kung paano ipo-proseso,” Defensor said.
Defensor emphasized that the Constitution will serve as the primary guide in revising the impeachment rules.
“We will respect the Supreme Court ruling, and we will see that the revised rules that we will approve, first of all, be aligned with the provisions of the Constitution and aligned with the intentions of the framers of the Constitution,” he said.
He added that the House does not need to assert its independence, as it is already enshrined in law.
“Our independence is laid down by the law,” Defensor said.
“There is a separation of powers kung saan dapat hindi lumalampas ang mga departamento sa isa’t-isa. The Legislative Department should not encroach on the Judicial Department, and the Judicial Department should not also encroach on the Executive and the Legislative Department.”
Defensor also rejected claims that the House committed grave abuse of discretion in handling impeachment proceedings.
“Wala akong nakikitang clear sign of grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Rules of the House of Representatives,” he said.
“It follows the intent of the Constitution, especially when it comes to the initiation of impeachment complaints.”
In its January 2026 ruling, the Supreme Court stated that a session day should be interpreted as a calendar day—an interpretation that contradicted its July 2025 decision.
Defensor said the revised rules aim to remove ambiguities.
“Mas malinaw lang ang ating magiging Rules on Impeachment as well as our internal procedures, we will make it more definitive para mas malinaw ang intention ng Constitution at framers ng Constitution,” he added.