PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. avoided impeachment on Tuesday, a largely expected outcome after allies in the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the complaints against him. The vote came a week after the House of Representatives’ Justice Committee dismissed two impeachment complaints against Marcos, saying they lacked substance. Marcos was accused of betraying public trust, committing graft and corruption, and violating the Constitution. “The impeachment complaints filed against the president, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. are hereby dismissed,” House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin told House members. Following the dismissal, impeachment efforts now shift toward Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing another round of complaints after surviving a similar bid last year. The third impeachment complaint against the vice president was transmitted to the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III on Monday night, House Secretary-General Cheloy Garafil said Tuesday. The complaint was filed by a group of private citizens composed of clergy, civil society leaders, and legal practitioners led by Fr. Joel Saballa, Rev. Fr. Joselito Sarabia, Rev. Fr. Edilberto Baculi, Rev. Fr. Rogelio del Rosario, Pastor Leonard Arevalo, Pinky Tam, Maria Loreto Lopez, Jalilo dela Torre, lawyers Democrito and Lourdes Barcenas, Sister Ma. Liza Ruedas, Sr. Violeta Cecilio, and Sister Geraldine Denoga. The third complaint alleged, among others, that Vice President Duterte committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed the public trust in connection with confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President for 2022 and 2023 and confidential funds allocated for 2023 to the Department of Education, which she used to head. The confidential funds were allocated by the Office of the President for use by Duterte’s office. Overwhelming majority Impeaching Marcos needed a one-third vote from more than 300 members in the lower house, where 284 members voted to dismiss the complaints. Only eight lawmakers voted for impeachment while four abstained. A constitutional rule prohibits subsequent impeachment complaints against Marcos until next year. Among the seven Philippine presidents since democracy was restored in 1986, only Joseph Estrada has been impeached, but his 2001 trial was aborted when prosecutors walked out in protest after senator-judges voted against opening an envelope that contained evidence against the then leader. The complaints against Marcos included his decision to allow his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte to be arrested and taken to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court over thousands of killings during his notorious “war on drugs.” Marcos, 68, was also accused of abusing his authority in spending public funds that led to a corruption scandal involving flood control projects. His alleged drug use, which he has denied, also made him unfit to run the country, according to one of the complaints. Five top officials have been impeached in the Philippines and only one of those, a former chief justice, was convicted and removed from office. 3rd case moves forward Garafil said the third complaint against Duterte was endorsed by Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, completing the requirements for its transmittal to Dy for appropriate action. “I emphasize that the role of the Office of the Secretary General in impeachment proceedings is strictly ministerial. My office is tasked only with the receipt, verification, and transmission of impeachment complaints and their endorsements,” Garafil said. Duterte did not comment on the third impeachment case. Instead, she referred to the statement made by her lawyer, Michael Wesley Poa, that they have already anticipated the filing of the third complaint. “For now, we will continue to closely monitor developments and address these complaints through the appropriate constitutional processes,” Poa said. She also said that her lawyers urged her not to comment on their actions against Ramil Madriaga, the self-confessed security consultant who claimed that he was Duterte’s bagman. On Thursday, Garafil also endorsed to Dy the first two impeachment complaints against Duterte, which were filed by Tindig Pilipinas and Makabayan. WITH REUTERS Duterte on Saturday described the Tindig Pilipinas complaint, which was endorsed by de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendana, as a “scrap of paper.” She also said that Akbayan has no credibility to endorse and file an impeachment complaint, noting that their leader, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, has been open about her intention to run for president, which she said is a clear indication of a political motive behind their move.