The House of Representatives’ committee on justice has voted to adopt its February 4 report declaring the impeachment complaints against President Marcos insufficient in substance. The vote was 39-4, led by chairperson Representative Gerville Luistro of Batangas. It was added to the plenary session agenda and forwarded to the rules committee.
In Manila, the House of Representatives’ committee on justice voted 39-4 to adopt Committee Report 111, declaring two separate impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insufficient in substance. The complaints were filed by private lawyer Andre de Jesus and former Gabriela congresswoman Liza Maza. Along with House Resolution 746, it was included in the plenary session’s order of business and referred to the rules committee chaired by Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, which will schedule a floor discussion.
The vote was led by Representative Gerville Luistro of Batangas, sponsored by Representatives Mauricio Domogan of Baguio City, Alfredo Garbin Jr. of the Ako Bicol party-list, Brian Poe of FPJ Panday, Jose Alvarez of Palawan, Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon, and Ysabel Maria Zamora of San Juan.
House Senior Deputy Minority Leader Edgar Erice of Caloocan City’s second district, who backed Maza’s complaint, criticized the committee’s stringent standards. “This is grave abuse of discretion. This is a virtual trial,” he said. He added, “This stage of the process is not a trial and not a determination of guilt. It is a threshold inquiry.” He warned it sets a dangerous precedent for dismissing future allegations against high officials without hearings.
Representative Leila de Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal party-list sought a partial dissent vote, but Luistro allowed only yes or no votes with explanations. Representatives Antonio Tinio of the ACT Teachers party-list and Renee Co of the Kabataan party-list opposed the adoption, arguing Maza’s complaint included a recital of facts and was meritorious. Meanwhile, Representative Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City’s second district noted that nothing in the complaints directly linked Marcos to an impeachable offense.
