NUP rejects impeachment bid vs Marcos, says no constitutional basis

The National Unity Party on Friday rejected any move to impeach President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying it sees no constitutional or factual grounds to support the filing of a complaint.

House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, who chairs the NUP, said the issue was raised to him directly and that the party’s position was firm.

“So I was asked a question about whether or not the NUP was going to support an impeachment complaint against President Marcos and my answer was definitely obviously no," he told reporters in an online interview.

Puno noted that even at a preliminary level, party members could not identify any impeachable offense under the Constitution.

“Actually, I don’t see any grounds for filing an impeachment case against the President. Kaya I would like to see whatever complaint there is,” he said.

He added that the party had already begun discussions on the matter and they found no basis to support it.

“That’s why I’m already saying our party, I’m almost sure 100% we are not going to be for it. Number one, wala naman kaming nakikita (First of all, we do not see any basis),” he said.

According to Puno, NUP members evaluated the issue using the same standards usually applied to impeachment complaints.

“Even when we started analyzing, we’re trying to think what grounds can they put for an impeachment case. Is there culpable violation of the Constitution? Is there any of those things? Parang wala kaming nakikita (We could not see any),” he said.

Puno added that the party remains guided by due process and constitutional requirements, stressing that any impeachment complaint must be supported by clear and credible allegations.

“So I would like to see what complaint they’re going to bring up, but I really am very skeptical that they’ll be able to come up with anything credible," he said.

Liberal Party

On the other hand, the leadership and members of Liberal Party will look into and discuss first the impeachment complaint that will be filed before issuing any position, according to Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila De Lima on Friday. 

She pointed out it is still premature for the party to decide whether they would support any impeachment moves against the President, pending the actual complaint that may be lodged at the House of Representatives. 

“Syempre mag-uusap-usap muna sa LP… Syempre pag-uusapan pa ho namin ‘yan, magkakaroon muna ng consultation. Ako, as representative of ML, which is the multi-sectoral arm of LP, ay kokonsultahin ko rin po ang mga miyembro, lalo na ang leadership ng Liberal Party sa usapin na ‘yan,” she said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Of course we will talk first...we will talk about that, there will be a consultation first. As a representative of ML, which is the multi-sectoral arm of LP, I will also consult the members, especially the leadership of the Liberal Party on that matter.) 

“Premature pa ho kasi ngayon eh hangga't hindi namin makikita ‘yung impeachment complaint (It's still premature right now until we see the impeachment complaint),” she added. 

Malacañang had said that Marcos is ready to face any impeachment complaint against him, maintaining that the President never stole public funds and that he even initiated the investigation into flood control anomalies to run after corrupt individuals.

De Lima said the Liberal Party will also weigh the fresh impeachment complaint that may be filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

“Lahat ho ‘yan ay titignan muna namin ang mga basehan and then ‘yung meron bang sapat na mga ebidensya para makapag-decide alin diyan ang susuportahan namin,” she explained.

(We will look into all of the bases for the possible complaints and then see if there is enough evidence so we can decide which one we will support.) 

To recall, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte in February 2025, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Nevertheless, De Lima stressed that she will not personally endorse any impeachment complaint and will just join the deliberations in the lower chamber. 

“Wala po akong kabalak-balak na mag-endorse ng impeachment complaint. Mas ano ko po ay talagang titignan ko na muna at lalo na ‘pag na-tackle na either doon sa committee level o doon sa plenary ng House of Representatives,” she said. 

(I have no intention of endorsing an impeachment complaint. What I want to focus on is looking into the complaint first, especially when it is tackled either at the committee level or at the plenary of the House of Representatives.) 

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III had committed to immediately act on any impeachment complaint that may be possibly transmitted to the Senate.

Article XI Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution, which states that: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”  —AOL, GMA Integrated News