The House committee on justice has ruled that the impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are sufficient in form, allowing the process to move to the next procedural stage.

The finding on sufficiency in form means the complaints met the technical and documentary requirements prescribed by the Constitution and House rules—such as proper verification, endorsement, and filing format. It does not determine guilt, nor does it assess the truth of the allegations.

With form established, the committee’s focus shifts to sufficiency in substance, where lawmakers examine whether the allegations—if assumed true—constitute impeachable offenses under the Constitution. This phase involves deeper legal scrutiny and deliberation.

Palace officials have maintained that the President respects constitutional processes while continuing to govern. Legal analysts note that many impeachment efforts historically stall or conclude at various stages due to procedural thresholds, vote counts, or constitutional limits, including the one-year bar.

For the public, the distinction remains critical: passing the form test opens the door—but does not decide the case.

In impeachment, procedure sets the path; numbers decide the destination.