Lawmakers vote to junk Marcos impeach cases

National

THE House of Representatives have junked the impeachment cases against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Behind a 284-8-4 vote, the House upheld the decision to dismiss the two impeachment complaints against Marcos , leaving no remaining impeachment cases to be entertained against him for the rest of the year.

Two complaints accusing the President of betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, among other allegations, were dismissed through a plenary vote affirming the recommendation of the House Justice Committee.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro led the members of the justice panel in reviewing the complaints last week. The panel found the complaints sufficient in form but lacking in substance, a report by Philstar said.

Luistro emphasized that complaints fundamentally insufficient in substance must be dismissed rather than entertained for the sake of political theater.

Lawmakers allied with the National Unity Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition supported the move to discard the impeachment complaints.

Opposition lawmakers, however, objected to the adoption of Committee Report No. 111 and House Resolution No. 746, which formalized the dismissal of the complaints.

Members of the Makabayan bloc — including Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Jane Elago, Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co, and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio — argued that the rejection of the complaints was unjustified and intended to shield the President instead of fulfilling Congress’ constitutional duty.

Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima also criticized the decision, saying it “settles nothing. It answers nothing. It clears no one.” She added that the dismissal cut short a process meant to test the allegations, hold officials accountable, and demonstrate how truth is confronted under democratic rules.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said President Marcos welcomed the House’s decision.

According to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, the President was pleased that 284 members of the House of Representatives voted to dismiss the impeachment complaints.(Jovie Caton Jr., BiPSU Comm Intern)