Assistant Majority Leader Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong says the impeachment complaint filed against President Marcos virtually has zero chances of advancing in the House of Representatives.

“This particular complaint appears crafted more for media consumption than for serious constitutional scrutiny. The House will not treat impeachment as a mere press statement or partisan maneuver. We will demand substance, and in this instance, substance is conspicuously absent,” Adiong said in a strongly-worded statement Tuesday, Jan. 20.

He was referring to the 12-page complaint filed Monday morning at the House by lawyer Andre de Jesus. It was the first ever impeachment rap filed against President Marcos.

Adiong's remarks followed a statement from House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III himself, who called the De Jesus complaint "unjustifiable".

"The accusations directed at President Marcos Jr. rely almost entirely on long-standing claims from vocal critics—claims that have already been repeatedly aired in public without producing new, verifiable evidence capable of withstanding constitutional muster,” Adiong reckoned.

The Mindanaoan said that the impeachment process cannot and must not be wielded on the basis of recycled accusations, hearsay, or purely political grievances.

“There has been no parallel House investigation, no subpoenaed documents, and no smoking-gun proof presented. This is politics dressed up as impeachment, and it will not succeed,” said the solon, also chairman of the Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

“Any impeachment article must allege and substantiate at least one of the specific impeachable offenses enumerated in the 1987 Constitution: culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust,” he said.

“Vague assertions and political dissatisfaction do not meet that standard. The House leadership and the majority recognize this reality. This effort is unlikely to even reach the plenary for a vote on endorsement,” Adiong added.

Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Miro Quimbo gave a similar take on the complaint filed by De Jesus.

"Impeachment is a remedy, not a weapon. It remains as a constitutional mechanism to address grave violations, but we cannot allow our constitutional processes to be hijacked by those seeking to manufacture crisis where none exists," he said.

Quimbo called on Filipinos to help the Marcos administration in its final years instead of disrupting it.

"The House stands for continuity of governance and respect for the will of the electorate. With two years left in the administration’s term, let us keep our government functioning smoothly instead of causing needless disruption.

"As it is, with the current economic and social volatility, our efforts should prioritize stability and resolving widespread issues like rising commodity prices and healthcare affordability," he explained.

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, has also acknowledged the uphill battle that the complaint is facing in the 300-plus strong chamber.

“Based on what is publicly known at this point, the complaint faces a steep and difficult path in the House,” he said.

“It requires clear, specific, and well-substantiated allegations of impeachable offenses, not conjecture, political disagreement, or generalized accusations. So far, no issue has emerged that clearly rises to the level of an impeachable offense as defined by the Constitution,” he noted.

Despite this assessment, Chua said the House remains duty-bound to act on the complaint in a manner guided by law and evidence.

“This assessment, however, does not excuse the House from its duty. The House will examine the complaint on its face, determine whether it meets constitutional and jurisprudential standards, and act accordingly—guided by reason, evidence, and law, not by noise or pressure,” he said.