Manila: The court has determined that the impeachment petitions filed against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. do not hold merit. The Philippine House Justice Committee announced on Wednesday that two separate petitions, which accused President Marcos of corruption, constitutional violations, and undermining public trust, were found to lack legal substance.

According to Thai News Agency, during its third day of deliberations, the commission decided by a majority vote that both petitions lacked sufficient grounds for impeachment. President Marcos, who is currently midway through his term, has refuted all allegations made against him. The next procedural step involves a full session of the House of Representatives to decide whether to uphold or reject the committee's findings. The Philippine House is predominantly composed of members who are loyal to President Marcos. However, the committee has not yet disclosed the subsequent steps it will take in addressing the two petitions.

Under the legal framework, impeaching President Marcos requires the backing of at least one-third of the House of Representatives. Should this process advance, he would be the second Philippine head of state to face impeachment proceedings, following Joseph Estrada, whose trial in 1901 was halted after several prosecutors walked out.

The charges against President Marcos include his decision to permit the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his extradition to The Hague for trial at the International Criminal Court concerning deaths linked to Duterte's "war on drugs" policy. Additionally, President Marcos, aged 68, is accused of abusing power in the allocation of public funds, resulting in corruption scandals related to flood control projects, alongside allegations of drug use, all of which he has consistently denied.