An impeachment complaint has been filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for alleged graft and corruption, violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.
The complaint was filed on Monday by lawyer Andre de Jesus and was endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay, a party-list lawmaker who owns JVN Construction and Trading and is among the legislative officials facing graft and plunder charges at the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with the flood control corruption scandal.
This is the first impeachment complaint filed against Mr. Marcos after the failed attempt in May 2025 by Duterte Youth party-list chair Ronald Cardema and his wife, Rep. Marie Cardema.
In a statement, Malacañang said it recognizes the filing of the impeachment complaint as part of the democratic process.
“We respect this process and trust that Congress, as a coequal branch of government, will discharge its duties with honesty, integrity, and fidelity to the rule of law,” the Palace said.
It said that the President “fully upholds the Constitution” and stays confident in the democratic institutions, and that even as the process unfolds, Mr. Marcos will continue to govern and ensure that “public services remain uninterrupted and that the work of government stays focused on improving the lives of our people.”
“Our institutions are strong, our processes are clear, and the administration remains committed to stability, accountability, and the betterment of every Filipino,” it added.
Charges
In his complaint filed at the Office of House of Representatives Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, the lawyer De Jesus charged that Mr. Marcos ordered and enabled the kidnapping and surrender of former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands; is unfit to serve due to drug addiction; committed betrayal of public trust for his failure to veto unprogrammed appropriations and other unconstitutional provisions in the General Appropriations Act; benefited from kickbacks and insertions in ghost flood control projects; created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to shield corrupt allies; and violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust by surrendering Duterte to the ICC.
De Jesus spoke with reporters at the House, saying: “We are putting to question and holding the President accountable, No. 1, for allowing a citizen of our country to just be whisked away, kidnapped virtually, brought to a foreign land without due process despite fully functioning courts here in the country.”
He said the President also “flagrantly failed to veto” unprogrammed funds in the national budgets.
De Jesus likewise questioned “the fitness of the President to govern the country” given the claim made last November by his older sister, Sen. Imee Marcos, that he is a drug addict.
This is an issue that has been dodged by the President and Malacañang, De Jesus said. “I could rest at night knowing I at least tried to do the right thing. Win or lose. The only way for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
The endorser of the complaint, Nisay, also spoke with reporters. “No one, not even the President is above the law,” he said. “Those who should be accountable must be held accountable.”
Nisay was also among the House lawmakers who voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte in 2025.
According to Garafil, the complaint will be transmitted to Speaker Faustino Dy III in accordance with the Constitution and the rules of the House.
Batangas (2nd district) Rep. Gerville Luistro, chair of the House justice committee, told reporters that her panel “is ready to receive the impeachment complaint” as soon as it is included in the order of business and referred to it.
‘Inadequate in form and substance’
But House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice is doubtful that the complaint would prosper.
It’s “a complaint without attachment, inadequate in form and substance,” Erice told CoverStory. “Besides, it is strange that Atty. De Jesus filed an impeachment case against [the President] because he once filed a disbarment case against Glen Chong in defense of first lady Liza Marcos in November 2024.”
Under the 1987 Constitution, the House needs a vote of at least one-third of its members to impeach a president.
The 20th Congress now has 316 members with the death of Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop in December. The House thus needs at least 105 votes to impeach Mr. Marcos.
In February 2025, the House impeached Vice President Duterte on charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes including her alleged misuse of confidential funds.
But under then Senate President Francis Escudero, the chamber did not forthwith embark on an impeachment trial. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that the complaint violated the one-year ban on initiating more than one impeachment proceeding against the same official and the right to due process. CS
