HAPPENING NOW: Rappler and Linya-Linya hard launch their good governance campaign through the “Mabuti Pa: Pag-usapan Natin ang Good Governance” event at the Linya-Linya headquarters in Libis, Quezon City.

Comedians and content creators Raco Ruiz, Ansis Sy, and Monica Cordero-Cruz of SPIT Manila join the event together with Rappler multimedia reporter Bea Cupin.

The #MabutiPa campaign will run until the 2028 national elections.

The official #MabutingPamamahala shirts are also available at the venue. Photos by Jelou Galang/Rappler @here

House receives Makabayan’s impeach rap vs Marcos, unclear if it will be acted on immediately

Makabayan lawmakers said Secretary General Cheloy Garafil received on Monday morning, January 26, the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that progressive groups tried to file last week.

ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio, however, said that Garafil did not commit to immediately referring their endorsed petition to the Speaker’s office.

There is already one complaint — endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Representative Jett Nisay — that was sent by Garafil to the desk of Speaker Bojie Dy last week.

This is the problem for Makabayan: if their complaint is not forwarded to the plenary at the same time as Nisay’s complaint, there is a strong possibility that Nisay’s petition will be the first one to be referred to the justice committee.

Referral to the justice committee means initiation of the complaint. Because the Constitution only allows one impeachment proceeding against an impeachable official per year, Makabayan’s complaint essentially loses value. 

Sandro Marcos says he will inhibit from House impeachment proceedings against father

House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos says in a press release Monday, January 26, that he will recuse himself from any discussions on impeachment against his father, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“While I am fully aware that the Rules of the House do not require my inhibition, and while I remain confident in the independence and professionalism of my colleagues, I recognize that leadership sometimes calls for restraint rather than participation,” the younger Marcos said.

“My recusal ensures that no question may be raised about the fairness, objectivity, or legitimacy of the process, and that the focus remains where it properly belongs—on the Constitution, the facts, and the rule of law," he added.

As majority leader, the Ilocos Norte congressman chairs the rules committee, which will be the one to calendar any impeachment complaint forwarded by Speaker Bojie Dy to the plenary.

DFA STATEMENT

MANILA 26 January 2026 - The Department has made firm representations to the Chinese Ambassador and the Chinese Embassy conveying serious concerns with the escalation of public exchanges between the Chinese Embassy and Philippine legislators, such as Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Erwin Tulfo, and other government officials.

We reiterate our previous statements affirming support for our officials to perform their lawful duties in defense of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction. Their views, as well as those of disagreeing voices, are an inescapable part of the robust plurality of ideas that animate our democratic society.

At the same time, while the Philippines values debate on our differences in national positions, the Department recognizes the need for sober, professional and respectful exchanges in the public sphere. Such is not contradictory to the national interest.

The Department believes that circumspection in language and actions are necessary so that the exchanges between the two sides, especially in the public domain, do not and will not unnecessarily derail the diplomatic space needed to manage the tensions in the maritime domain and constructively collaborate in the non-sensitive areas of cooperation, such as in establishing formal communication channels between the two coast guards, developing scientific cooperation on ocean meteorology, and reinvigorating our trade and investment ties, agriculture cooperation, and people-to-people interaction. END

via @Bea Cupin - RAPPLER

2 impeachment complaints vs Marcos included in the order of business in House plenary

UPDATE: Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson relinquishes his chairmanship of the electoral reforms committee in favor of Senator Risa Hontiveros during the Senate session on Monday, January 26. Lacson said he is giving up the role to prioritize the blue ribbon panel probe on anomalous flood control projects and his other roles as accounts committee chair and Senate President Pro Tempore.

As the new electoral reforms chairperson, Hontiveros will preside over committee hearings on the anti-dynasty bill. The first hearing is set for Wednesday, January 28.

Akbayan party asks the Department of Foreign Affairs to suspend the 14-day visa-free entry for Chinese tourists after their embassy’s attacks on Philippine officials.

This is in response to “the Chinese embassy’s blatant interference in Philippine internal affairs and its repeated attacks against Filipino public officials.”

On Monday, 15 senators from across party lines signed a resolution condemning the embassy’s hostile statements. Only senators allied with former president Rodrigo Duterte did not sign the resolution.

Ex-Comelec spokesman James Jimenez dies

James Jimenez, the longest-serving spokesperson of the Commission on Elections, has died, the Comelec says in a statement on Wednesday, January 28.

"Throughout multiple electoral cycles, Jimenez stood at the frontlines of public information during moments of intense scrutiny and national consequence. He helped bridge the communications gap by pioneering the official social media channels of the Commission, giving the public a direct avenue in conveying their queries and concerns," the poll body says.

Breaking news, analyses, and context about the biggest political developments in the Philippines, from Rappler's political reporters and editors

Makabayan: Impeachment now more difficult to pursue after SC ‘rewrites rules’

The House’s left-wing bloc Makabayan, which endorsed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte last year, said the Supreme Court’s affirmation of its earlier decision blocking her impeachment has “effectively disabled” a constitutionally valid shortcut in the impeachment process.

“The means of holding the highest officials of the land accountable, through a one-third vote of the House of Representatives, will now be even more difficult for citizens to pursue. The SC has rewritten the rules on impeachment in favor of impeachable officials such as the President and the Vice President,” the group said.

Makabayan insisted that the issues it raised in its complaint against Vice President Duterte remain valid. The left-wing lawmakers also reiterated their readiness to refile the complaint once the one-year bar lapses next week.

Just a short statement from Speaker Bojie Dy, who says he recognizes the Supreme Court's decision:

"Kinikilala ng Kapulungan ng mga Kinatawan ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema kaugnay ng Articles of Impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Ang impeachment ay isang prosesong malinaw na itinatakda ng Konstitusyon at may tiyak na pamantayan. Mahalaga po ang pag-iingat sa proseso ng impeachment—isang pananagutang kaakibat ng mandato na ipinagkatiwala sa atin ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Also a similar statement from Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez:

"THE House of Representatives takes note of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the Philippines resolving the motion for reconsideration related to the impeachment case involving Vice President Sara Duterte.

"As a co-equal branch of government, the House fully respects the Supreme Court as the final arbiter on issues of constitutionality. This respect is grounded in our shared commitment to the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the orderly functioning of democratic institutions.

"The House of Representatives remains guided by its constitutional mandate and reaffirms its commitment to upholding democratic principles, institutional respect, and the rule of law.

Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste confirms applying for a travel clearance from February 8 to July 26 to vist nearly 20 countries.

“I asked for the travel authority upon the request of representatives of the administration who asked that I go abroad and stop releasing evidence linking government officials to anomalous DPWH projects—but this does not mean that I will be abroad for that whole time. I will be present at any opportunity that Congress gives me to speak on any issue, as long as I am asked or allowed,” Leviste says.

“Several high-level representatives of the administration have requested this—to my mom, so that I do not name them,” he adds.

NEWS UPDATE: The Securities and Exchange Commission confirms on Saturday, January 31, that it filed a criminal complaint against the Villar Land, including its officials, over alleged "market manipulation, insider trading, and misleading disclosures that distorted the company’s share prices and misled the investing public.

Rappler has reported about the complaint filed with the Department of Justice on Friday, January 30.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DH4y8USEv/

Ongoing now:

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/video-house-kicks-off-impeachment-proceedings-president-marcos-jr/

Second impeachment petition, endorsed by Makabayan, also declared sufficient in form, although there are more objections this time. The vote is 35-9-1. The no votes include Joel Chua, Rolando Valeriano, Benny Abante, Joboy Aquino, Jay Khonghun.

SENATE COUP RUMORS ANEW.

Senate President Tito Sotto says he has not heard any information regarding a supposed ouster plot against him, saying that senators have not voiced any concerns on his leadership. When asked of possible reasons he might lose the Senate presidency, Sotto cited his strictness against insertions during the budget deliberations.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, for his part, says they don't have the 13 votes needed to oust Sotto as of today.

"As of today, wala pa 'yung 13 na 'yan or 'yung 13 hindi present," Cayetano said. He reiterated previous remarks that it was never a secret that the minority bloc wants to become the majority.

The only senator absent today is Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

Here's a previous story we worked on Cayetano's statements about their majority bloc aspirations: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/inside-track/alan-cayetano-minority-will-always-want-part-majority/