House Committee on Justice approves report dismissing impeachment raps vs Marcos

The House Committee on Justice approved its committee report dismissing the two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

The panel voted 39-4-0 as it resumed its deliberations on the impeachment raps on Monday, Feb. 9.

This comes days after the committee ruled that the two complaints were insufficient in substance.

On Feb. 4, the House panel junked both cases filed by Atty. Andre de Jesus and lawmakers of the Makabayan bloc.

House Justice Committee Chair Gerville Luistro stated that an impeachment complaint is deemed sufficient if it presents a "recital of facts constituting the offense charged and determinative of the jurisdiction of the committee."

De Jesus, alongside Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jett Nisay, submitted an impeachment complaint on Jan. 19, citing three grounds: serious violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. He is also seeking to hold the president responsible for permitting the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Meanwhile, a second complaint was filed on Jan. 26 by militant and progressive groups led by the Makabayan bloc. This complaint contains three articles of impeachment, alleging the institutionalization of systemic corruption and patronage, misuse of discretionary funds for unprogrammed appropriations, and direct involvement in kickback schemes. Former lawmaker Zaldy Co accused Marcos of including P100 billion in the 2025 budget for flood control projects.

The panel earlier declared that the impeachment complaints were sufficient in form.