2 IMPEACH RAPS VS PBBM SUFFICIENT IN FORM — HOUSE JUSTICE PANEL

THE House Committee on Justice on Monday declared the two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sufficient in form, clarifying that the ruling does not mean approval and only allows the panel to proceed to weighing their substance.

The committee voted 46-1 with one abstention to declare sufficient in form the first complaint filed by lawyer Andre De Jesus and endorsed by House Deputy Minority Leader and Pusong Pinoy Party-list Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay.

It later voted 35-9 with one abstention to similarly clear the second complaint filed by a group of activists and private individuals led by Liza Maza, Teodoro Casiño, Renato Reyes Jr., Atty. Neri Colmenares and labor leader Ronaldo “Ka Jerome” Adonis.

The second complaint was endorsed by ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co.

Leaders of the justice committee stressed that the proceedings remain at a preliminary and strictly procedural phase and that it has yet it address the merits of the complaints.

“I just want to make it clear para sa mga kababayan natin, ang nabotohan po natin kanina was about the form,” FPJ Panday Bayanihan Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares, vice chair of the panel, said in a press conference.

“Gusto ko maging klaro po ‘yan para sa mga kababayan natin kasi baka isipin nila na we already approved the impeachment. Hindi po ‘yan. Form pa lang ‘yung pinag-uusapan natin dito,” he explained.

Panel chair Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the committee’s action was confined to checking whether the complaints met technical requirements under House rules.

“Ang ating pong tinapos ngayong araw na ito, kung tawagin namin under the rules, is sufficiency in form,” Luistro said. “Ibig sabihin, dapat ang impeachment complaint, signed ng complainant, verified, based on personal knowledge, and authentic records, may endorsement, resolution of endorsement ng member of the House.”

“With all these considerations, pinagtibay po ng boto ng mga miyembro ng justice committee na ang De Jesus complaint ay sufficient in form, at ganoon din ang Maza et al. complaint ay sufficient din in form,” she said.

Luistro said the committee will next determine whether the allegations meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment.

“Bukas po, tatalakayin naman ang sufficiency in substance,” she said. “‘Pag sinabi po nating substance, dapat ‘yun pong mga isinulat nila doon na pagkakamali ng impeachable official, they must constitute the offense which is the ground for impeachment.”

“Hindi po sapat na nakasaad doon ‘yung mga pagkakamali,” Luistro added. “Ang tanong, ito bang pagkakamaling ito, ito ho ba ay impeachable offense?”

She emphasized that the committee is barred at this stage from weighing evidence or testing the truth of the accusations. “Ito po ay preliminary matters of the entire proceeding of impeachment,” Luistro said.

“Ang tututukan lang po namin ay kung ano ang nakasulat at nakikita namin sa impeachment complaint. We are not supposed to go beyond. Bawal pa po kaming makinig ng mga ebidensya to prove the allegations in the complaint.”

Luistro then outlined the five-step impeachment process, beginning with the determination of sufficiency in form completed Monday and followed by the review of sufficiency in substance.

She said that if both complaints are found sufficient in substance, the committee will issue notice to the respondent to file an answer and will require the submission of pleadings, affidavits and counter-affidavits under oath.

According to Luistro, the panel will then determine whether there is sufficient basis to support the impeachment complaints. If so, the process will move to the hearing proper, where the complainants, their witnesses and the respondent may be invited to appear.

Luistro said the final stage is the determination of probable cause. She said the committee’s findings will be reflected in a formal report to be transmitted to the plenary for consideration, and that approval by at least one-third of all House members would result in the transmittal of the impeachment case to the Senate for trial.