THE House Committee on Justice on Wednesday overwhelmingly dismissed two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., ruling that both failed to meet the Constitution’s requirement of sufficiency in substance.
Earlier found sufficient in form, the committee—chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro—declared insufficient in substance the complaints separately filed by lawyer Andre De Jesus and by a group of activists and private individuals led by former lawmaker Liza Maza.
By a 42–1 vote with three abstentions, the panel approved a motion by its vice chair, San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, declaring the De Jesus complaint insufficient in substance.
The committee then voted on a motion by Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice to declare sufficient in substance the Maza et al. complaint.
ML Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima seconded the motion, but Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. objected, prompting the Chair to order a division of the House.
“With votes in favor of the motion, 7, and those against the motion, 39, with zero abstention. The Chair declares the Maza et al. impeachment complaint insufficient in substance,” Luistro said.
The twin rulings formally terminated both impeachment complaints at the sufficiency-in-substance stage, ending the committee’s constitutional review.
In a press conference after the hearing, Luistro said the committee will reconvene on Monday, Feb. 9, to finalize its report for transmittal to the House plenary, subject to approval by at least one-third of all House members.
Ahead of the vote, Luistro urged members to decide based on conscience, facts and the interest of the Filipino people.
“I urge every member of this committee, vote not out of convenience, vote with your conscience. Isipin natin ang kapakanan at kinabukasan ng bawat Pilipino. Let us prove that in this hall, the interest of the Filipino people always comes first,” she said.
Both complaints accused the President of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
The De Jesus complaint, endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jett Nisay, cited alleged unconstitutional acts, including the surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court, misuse of unprogrammed appropriations, and claims questioning the President’s fitness to serve.
Endorsed by the Makabayan bloc, the Maza et al. complaint alleged betrayal of public trust over the so-called “BBM Parametric Formula” in infrastructure spending, allegedly linked to anomalous flood-control projects, as well as supposed irregularities involving PhilHealth funds and other budget allocations.
A majority of committee members said both complaints failed to plead facts sufficient to warrant a full impeachment hearing, relying largely on speculation, policy disagreements, and unsubstantiated claims rather than any direct or indirect act by the President constituting an impeachable offense.
They stressed that impeachment requires factual allegations supported by evidence, not rhetoric, labels, or conjecture.
Lawmakers also warned against lowering the constitutional threshold by relying on hearsay, unverified claims, or the absence of direct evidence linking the President to corruption or betrayal of public trust
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