First formal impeachment complaint filed against Marcos

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is now facing an impeachment complaint filed before the House of Representatives by lawyer Andres de Jesus.

The complaint, officially received by the Office of the Secretary General, was endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Party-list Representative Jett Nisay.

De Jesus told the media that the impeachment complaint is anchored on three grounds: culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

Aside from the ongoing flood control scandal, he said he wants the president to be held accountable for allowing former president Rodrigo Duterte to be arrested by the International Criminal Court and transferred to The Hague, Netherlands.

He also included Marcos' handling of the 2026 budget, as he did not veto P243 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, allowing P150 billion to stay in the fund. 

De Jesus also questioned Marcos' fitness to lead the country, pointing to allegations of illegal drug use, which Malacañang has since denied.

Palace, House react

The Palace responded by acknowledging the complaint as part of the democratic process provided for under the Constitution.

"We respect this process and trust that Congress, as a co-equal branch of government, will discharge its duties with honesty, integrity, and fidelity to the rule of law," it said on Monday.

Malacañang said that the president "will continue to govern, ensuring 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 ended.

Meanwhile, the House, through the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability Chairman Joel R. Chua, said that "the complaint will be received, evaluated for sufficiency in form and substance, and processed in accordance with established procedures."

He emphasized that impeachment remains a last-resort constitutional measure requiring evidence-backed allegations rather than political disagreement or speculation.

"So far, no issue has emerged that clearly rises to the level of an impeachable offense as defined by the Constitution," he said.

Chua emphasized that the House will follow the new rules and parameters laid down by the Supreme Court in its recent decision on impeachment proceedings.

"The public can be assured that the House will act deliberately, transparently, and within the bounds of the Constitution," he said.

House rules require an impeachment complaint to be referred to the Office of the Speaker and included in the Order of Business within 10 session days of filing. It is then forwarded to the Committee on Justice within three session days.

The committee evaluates whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance and, if probable cause exists, conducting hearings to assess the evidence and the respondents’ defenses.

Should the committee find no sufficient grounds, it may recommend dismissal. The House plenary, however, can override this through a one-third vote of all members to proceed with an impeachment trial and draft the articles of impeachment.

An impeachment complaint against Marcos may also move directly to the plenary if backed by at least one-third of House members, skipping the committee process similar to Vice President Sara Duterte's case. 

In recent months, calls to impeach Marcos have intensified following flood control investigations and a corruption scandal alleging that he and former senior officials he appointed siphoned off billions of pesos through budget manipulation.