MANILA – The House Committee on Justice 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 evaluating their substance.

In a press briefing, leaders of the House justice committee emphasized that the proceedings remain at a preliminary and strictly procedural stage, with no ruling yet on 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 Party-list Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares, vice chair of the panel, said.

“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 added.

Panel chair Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the committee’s action was limited 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. 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,” Luistro explained.

She said the committee will next determine whether the allegations meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment but stressed that it is barred at this stage from weighing evidence or testing the truth of the accusations.

“These are only preliminary matters of the entire proceeding of impeachment. 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 said.

She outlined the five-step impeachment process, beginning with the determination of sufficiency in form, followed by review of sufficiency in substance. If both complaints are found sufficient in substance, the committee will notify the respondent to file an answer and submit pleadings, affidavits, and counter-affidavits under oath.

The panel will then assess whether there is sufficient basis to support the complaints. If so, the process moves to the hearing proper, where complainants, witnesses, and the respondent may be invited to appear. The final stage is the determination of probable cause.

Luistro said the committee’s findings will be compiled in a formal report to be transmitted to the plenary for consideration. Approval by at least one-third of all House members would allow the impeachment case to be sent to the Senate for trial.