Deliberations by the House Committee on Justice on the two impeachment complaints referred against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will begin next Monday, 2 February.

Committee chairperson Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the panel is considering 2, 3, and 4 February as initial hearing dates, which will be dedicated to determining the sufficiency of the complaints in form and in substance.

She said that if the scheduled dates are insufficient, additional hearings will be set in the succeeding week.

Luistro outlined the legal thresholds that will guide the panel’s review, noting that the first two steps involve determining sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance.

She explained that for sufficiency in form, impeachment complaints must be signed, verified, and endorsed by at least one House member.

For sufficiency in substance, Luistro said the allegations must adequately support at least one of the constitutional grounds for impeachment.

“In the determination of sufficiency in substance, we will examine whether the statement of facts and allegations contained in the impeachment complaint are sufficient to substantiate a ground, some ground, or more grounds for impeachment,” she said.

Luistro emphasized that impeachment complaints must strictly adhere to the grounds enumerated in the Constitution.

She noted that these grounds include culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

“Since these grounds are expressly enumerated, the impeachment complaints must be focused and confined to them,” Luistro said.

Once the complaints hurdle the tests of sufficiency in form and in substance, the committee will proceed to determine whether there is sufficient basis to support the impeachment complaints.

Luistro said the complainants, witnesses, and even the respondent will be invited during the hearing proper.

She clarified that attendance during the hearing is a right, not an obligation.

“It is the prerogative of the respondent whether to attend or not. If he chooses not to appear, it will be considered a waiver of his right to be present during the hearing,” Luistro said.

The final step, she added, is the determination of probable cause, which refers to the possibility that an impeachable act or offense has been committed.

She explained that this threshold mirrors the standard used in preliminary investigations.

“Probable cause means the possibility that the crime has been committed,” Luistro said.

She also stressed that impeachment complaints cannot rest on bare allegations and must be supported by evidence.

Under the verification requirement, she said allegations must be based on personal knowledge or supported by authentic records.

Luistro added that the justice committee will consolidate the two impeachment complaints filed against President Marcos.