The House Committee on Justice on Wednesday ruled that the two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. are insufficient in substance, effectively halting their progress at the committee level.
Committee chairperson and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro ordered a vote on the impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Party-list Representative Jernie Jett Nisay, following deliberations on a separate complaint lodged by the Makabayan bloc.
San Juan At-Large District Representative Ysabel Zamora moved to declare the de Jesus complaint insufficient in substance, a motion opposed by Nisay. The panel voted 42-1, with three abstentions, to dismiss the complaint.
Caloocan City 2nd District Representative Egay Erice later moved to declare the Makabayan-backed impeachment complaint sufficient in substance, but Manila 6th District Representative Benny Abante objected. The committee rejected the motion with a 7-39 vote and no abstentions.
The Justice committee is set to submit its report to the House plenary for approval.
Under House rules, at least one-third, or 106 of the 318 members of the House of Representatives, is required to overturn the committee’s decision.