MANILA – The House Committee on Justice will convene on February 2 to begin formal proceedings on the two verified impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
Notices for the morning meeting were sent to committee members. Batangas 2nd District’s Cong. Gerville Luistro, who chairs the panel, is expected to preside, together with committee members and the sponsors of the complaints.
The cases set for initial consideration include the complaint filed by Atty. Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy party-list’s Cong. Jernie Jett Nisay, as well as a separate complaint filed by progressive groups and backed by ACT Teachers party-list’s Cong. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party’s Cong. Sarah Elago, and Kabataan party-list’s Cong. Renee Co.
At the February 2 session, the panel will consolidate the two complaints and first determine whether they are sufficient in form, or compliant with procedural and documentary requirements.
If found proper, the committee is also expected to begin discussing their sufficiency in substance, which refers to whether the complaints clearly state facts that may constitute impeachable offenses.
“We will be allowing the sponsors to do their sponsorship of these impeachment complaints. And then perhaps after that, we will be giving opportunity, ample opportunity, to all the committee members to ask questions for them to be able to determine: One is sufficiency in form, and after that, the sufficiency in substance,” Luistro said.
Tinio said he is confident that the complaint endorsed by the Makabayan bloc will pass both stages of review, adding that the committee may still remove allegations it considers weak.
“Dapat lumusot both sa sufficiency in form and substance dahil ang laman nu’n ay ang katotohanan — ang nangyari sa flood control corruption scandal at sa direktang papel ng Pangulo rito, kaya kailangan siyang managot through impeachment,” Tinio said.
Luistro noted that dropping specific articles of impeachment for lack of substance would require a majority vote of the committee.
“Paano kung sufficient in substance some, but not all of the grounds incorporated in the complaint? That will still sustain the… sufficiency in substance requirement,” she added.
Malacañang has earlier described the impeachment moves as political “attacks” on the administration, but Tinio said the process is a legitimate accountability mechanism.
“So, tayo ay mga biktima na humingi ng accountability through impeachment sa ngalan ng taumbayan. So, maling-mali yata, binabaligtad,” he said.
Luistro, who belongs to the House majority, said that regardless of the motivations behind the complaints, acting on them is part of the chamber’s constitutional duty.
She said handling impeachment cases “is a mandate that we have to face,” even if the process carries political consequences./PN
