The House Committee on Justice on Wednesday officially dismissed two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., citing a lack of substance in the allegations.
In a series of votes during its third hearing, the panel effectively ended the first impeachment attempt against the President. Under Philippine law, no new impeachment proceedings can be initiated against the same official for a period of one year.
The committee first voted 42-1-3 to junk a complaint filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus. It subsequently voted 39-7 to dismiss a separate complaint endorsed by the Makabayan bloc.
The second complaint accused the President of betrayal of public trust, specifically citing the alleged institutionalization of corruption through a “parametric formula” for public works projects and the use of unprogrammed appropriations.
While minority lawmakers, including Reps. Chel Diokno, Leila de Lima, and Edgar Erice, argued that the complaints contained sufficient factual allegations to warrant a full trial, the majority of the committee ruled that the evidence presented was insufficient.
“An imperfect policy direction is not, by itself, an impeachable offense,” said Vice Chair Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, defending the majority’s stance. Other members of the panel argued that many of the allegations relied on hearsay or lacked a direct link to the President’s actions.
With the dismissal, the committee will conduct no further proceedings or hearings on the matter. The ruling provides a significant legislative victory for the administration, clearing the President of the immediate threat of a Senate trial.