House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima said allegations involving former President Rodrigo Duterte’s supposed surrender to The Hague and claims of illegal drug use by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. lack sufficient substance under impeachment standards.
De Lima made the remarks during discussions at the House Committee on Justice on the first impeachment case filed by lawyer Andre De Jesus.
She said House rules require that an impeachment complaint include a recital of facts that would support an impeachable offense. At this stage, she explained, the committee does not yet determine whether accusations are true, credible, or supported by evidence.
However, De Lima stressed that for an offense to be considered sufficient in substance, the complaint must cite specific acts rather than mere conclusions. She said allegations should also be clearly connected to constitutional grounds for impeachment.
De Lima added that accusations should not rely purely on speculation or opinion, noting that respondents must be able to answer meaningfully to the charges raised against them.
House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor also emphasized that the committee’s responsibility is not limited to accepting a recital of facts but includes reviewing complaints with caution.
Several lawmakers agreed that allegations should be carefully examined, particularly those involving claims of illegal drug use by the president.
Representative Bernadette Barbers said accusations that Marcos uses illegal drugs appeared to be based only on hearsay. She pointed out that the complainant did not state having personal knowledge that the president was an addict and instead relied on allegations raised by Sen. Imee Marcos.
The committee continues its review of the impeachment complaint as lawmakers weigh whether the accusations meet the required standards under House rules.
