Metro Manila, Philippines – The two verified impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were declared “sufficient in form” on Monday, Feb. 2, as deliberations on the matter began in the House of Representatives.
The House justice panel will further assess the complaints for their substance or merits on Tuesday, another standard that has to be met before the filing of pleadings.
Lawmakers focused discussions on meeting the requirements on verification, notarization, and endorsement.
The first complaint, filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jernie Nisay, was cleared with 46 affirmative votes, one negative, and one abstention.
The second document, filed by progressive group Bayan and endorsed by Makabayan lawmakers, received 35 yes votes, nine no votes, and one abstention.
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez questioned the form as the notarization was not on the verification page.
“We have to stick with legal rules,” he said.
“The matter of fact of the notarial seal being on a separate page is due to the volume of signatures of complainants. There are 36, they cannot fit in just one page,” said Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co of the Makabayan bloc.
She said there was media coverage that the complainants swore before the notary public and that the notarial seal and signature were provided on all documents.
De Jesus filed a complaint over a number of allegations, including drug use, the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and subsequent detention in the Netherlands, unprogrammed appropriations, and flood control project kickbacks,
Bayan focused on allocable funds in the Department of Public Works and Highways, the so-called new “pork barrel.” The Supreme Court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund as unconstitutional in 2013.
