Marcos responds to impeachment dismissal: 'Let's move forward'

''Let's move forward.''

This was the reaction of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. after the impeachment complaints against him were junked for being insufficient in substance, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said on Wednesday.

Castro said Malacañang was grateful that lawmakers were able to see that the two complaints had no merit.

''Unang-una po ay ikinatutuwa po natin na nasunod ang proseso at nagpapasalamat po tayo na nakita po ng mga mambabatas kung ano po talaga ang katotohanan, doon po tayo lagi sa katotohanan," Castro said.

"Nakita po natin na talaga pong walang merito ang nasabing mga complaints, maski na po ang Pangulo ay kumpiyansa na wala siyang ginawang impeachable offense,'' she added.

(We are happy that the process was observed, and we are thankful that the lawmakers see the truth. We are always for the truth. We see that the complaints have no merit and the President is confident that he did not commit an impeachable offense.)

''Sa ngayon po, tutok po ang Pangulo sa pag-angat ng ekonomiya ng bansa kaya't sabi po niya, 'Let's move forward,''' Castro said.

(The President is focused on improving the country's economy, and he said 'Let's move forward.')

While the President was not able to watch the proceedings at the House Committee on Justice as he attended two events, Castro said Marcos is happy with the outcome.

''Natuwa po siya, sabi nga po niya nasunod ang proseso at 'yun naman din po ang gusto ng Pangulo, masunod ang proseso at makita ang katotohanan,'' Castro said.

(He is happy, and he said due process was observed. That's what he wants, for due process to be followed and for us to see the truth.)

The vote for the dismissal of the first impeachment complaint filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus tallied 42 yes, one no, and three abstentions.

On the other hand, the second impeachment complaint filed by the Makabayan coalition, on the other hand, was found insufficient in substance after the motion declaring it sufficient in substance was defeated via a seven yes, 39 no, and zero abstentions. 

The impeachment complaints were:

• filed by De Jesus which accuses the President of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution, among others, for ordering and enabling the kidnapping and surrender of ex-President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC), being a drug addict whose condition impairs his judgment and leadership, failing to veto unprogrammed appropriations and other unconstitutional provisions of the national budget for 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026, among others and
• the Makabayan complaint, which alleged that the President committed a betrayal of public trust by adopting the Baselined-Balanced-Managed (BBM) Parametric Formula in allocating infrastructure projects, allegedly leading to "ghost," substandard, and overpriced flood management projects, among others.

House justice panel chairperson and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, ahead of the voting, said the determination of sufficiency in substance of an impeachment complaint does not operate on a theory of strict liability for governance. –NB, GMA Integrated News