Impeachment in The Philippines - Impeaching Officials

Impeaching Officials

1. Any citizen with an endorsement of a member of the House of Representative may file charges.
2. The House Committee on Justice will decide by majority vote if the complaint has substance.
3. The House Committee on Justice will decide by majority vote if the complaint is sufficient in form.
4. The House Committee on Justice will decide by majority vote if the complaint is sufficient in grounds.
5. The House Committee on Justice will decide by majority vote if there is probable cause in the complaint.
6. The House of Representatives will vote to impeach the official. A one-third vote is needed.
   • If the vote passes, the complaint will become the "Articles of Impeachment" and the House will appoint prosecutors who may or may not be members of the House.
   • If the vote fails in any part of the procedure, the official accused can't be filed for impeachment for one calendar year.
7. The Senate will then try the impeached official. Conviction requires a two-thirds vote.
8. If convicted, there are two punishments the Senate can mete out:
   • Censure or a reprimand, or
   • Removal from office and prohibition to hold any governmental office

In the 1935 constitution, a two-thirds vote was needed to impeach an official by the House of Representatives, while a three-fourths vote in the Senate was required to convict.