Impeachment complaint filed vs Bongbong Marcos

An impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. was filed Monday with the House of Representatives.

The complaint, which was filed by Atty. Andre de Jesus, was endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Party-list Representative Jett Nisay, according to a tweet by Isa Umali of Super Radyo dzBB.

The grounds cited by De Jesus in the complaint are graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust.

House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil confirmed receiving the impeachment complaint against the President on Monday morning, according to a tweet by Tina Panganiban-Perez of GMA Integrated News.

It was the first impeachment complaint filed against Marcos.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Malacañang recognizes the filing of complaints 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,'' the PCO said.

It said that Marcos fully upholds the Constitution and remains confident in the strength of our democratic institutions.

The PCO also said that while these processes take its course, Marcos will continue to govern in order to ensure that public services remain uninterrupted and that the work of government will remain focused on improving the lives of the public.

''Our institutions are strong, our processes are clear, and the administration remains committed to stability, accountability, and the betterment of every Filipino,'' the PCO said.

Grounds

De Jesus said Marcos violated the Constitution and betrayed public trust by surrendering former president Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We are putting to question…holding the President accountable for number one, allowing a citizen of the country to be whisked away, kidnapped, without due process, despite the functioning courts in our country,” de Jesus told reporters.

Duterte was arrested in March 2025 over alleged crimes against humanity due to drug war killings during his presidency. De Jesus said Duterte was arrested without a valid Philippine warrant of arrest. Duterte has since been detained in The Hague in the Netherlands and is facing charges before the ICC.

De Jesus also said Marcos is unfit to serve as president due to his alleged drug addiction which impairs his judgment, erodes discipline, and undermines moral authority.

He cited the statement of the president's sister, Senator Imee Marcos, who said the chief executive has been using drugs. 

"Respondent's refusal to submit to a drug test conclusively demonstrates his disregard for transparency and accountability... By remaining silent and evasive, Respondent tellingly confirmed public suspicion and betrayed the trust of a nation he swore to serve," de Jesus said in the complaint.

“An allegation that a sitting President might be somehow involved in addiction of any sort to prohibited drugs should be alarming. It has been an issue that has been dodged by the President, sweeping it under the rug. That failure to react can be taken against you,” de Jesus told reporters.

“Silence means yes. We have not heard from the President denying it. We have not heard from the President undergoing procedure to debunk all these rumors,” de Jesus said.

Marcos however was "disappointed" after Senator Imee Marcos accused the First Family of using illegal drugs, according to Malacañang. 

“Dismayado po ang Pangulo. Dismayado na umabot sa ganitong kasinungalingan ang ginawa ng kaniyang kapatid (The President is dismayed that this has resulted in lies by his sister),” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro told GMA Integrated News last November 2025.

De Jesus also alleged that Marcos engaged in graft and corruption through kickbacks and ghost projects.

This the president allegedly did by orchestrating "the insertion of massive amounts into the General Appropriations Act to create a pool of funds for kickbacks - a scheme publicly exposed and widely discussed, leaving no room for denial," he said in the complaint.

Marcos also allegedly created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure for probing flood control projects to shield his corrupt allies, de Jesus said.

Budget

De Jesus also alleged that Marcos betrayed public trust by failing to veto unprogrammed appropriations and other unconstitutional provisions in the General Appropriations Bill for the years 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

He said that the president should be impeached over the signing of a national budget that allowed the transfer of excess PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury in violation of various laws.

Unprogrammed appropriations are budget items which will only be funded if there is excess government revenue collection or other sources of funding such as special laws or loans. The President makes the final call on which budget item under the unprogrammed appropriations will be funded once there is an available funding. 

“We are also holding the President accountable for failing to veto unprogrammed appropriations despite being able to do so. The President had every opportunity to veto…he signed that [2025] budget even if the Supreme Court said that the PhilHealth part of that budget is unconstitutional,” de Jesus added.

It was the 2025 national budget which contained a provision allowing the transfer of excess PhilHealth funds, but this has since been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

The President, however, signed the 2025 national budget before the issuance of the Supreme Court decision.

“Impeachment exists precisely for eventualities such as those discussed herein -when a President systematically abuses power, blatantly disregards the Constitution, and betrays public trust. Respondent [Marcos] has demonstrated a pattern of corruption, disloyalty to constitutional order, and moral unfitness,” the complaint added.

De Jesus then said Marcos’ continued stay in office “undermines democratic governance” and therefore “justifies and necessitates impeachment.”

“Wherefore, premises considered, complainant most respectfully prays that the Honorable House of Representatives impeach respondent President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr. for graft and corruption, culpable violation of the constitution, and betrayal of public trust, and transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial and conviction,” the complaint added.

House leader: No grounds yet

House good government and public accountability panel chair Joel Chua said Monday there are currently no grounds to impeach Marcos based on the complaint filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus.

“We have been informed that an impeachment complaint against President Marcos Jr. was filed today. As with any impeachment complaint, the House of Representatives will accord it the initial consideration required under the Constitution and our rules," he said.

"At the same time, it must be stated frankly that, based on what is publicly known at this point, the complaint faces a steep and difficult path in the House,” Chua added.

Chua said the House would not endorse any impeachment complaint unless it met constitutional standards and was backed by solid evidence.

Impeachment process

According to Article XI of the 1987 Constitution under "Accountability of Public Officers", the president, vice president, members of the Supreme Court, members of the Constitutional commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from their posts "on impeachment for, and conviction of" the following:

• culpable violation of the Constitution
• treason
• bribery
• graft and corruption
• other high crimes
• betrayal of public trust 

All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment, the Constitution said.

READ: What is impeachment and how does it work in the Philippines?

The impeachment process begins at the House of Representatives where any member or citizen can file a verified complaint which shall be endorsed by any House member. This shall be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days and referred to the proper House committee within three session days thereafter. 

After conducting a hearing and by a majority of votes by the panel members, the House committee shall submit a report to the House within sixty session days. The resolution will be calendared by the House within 10 session days.

“A vote of at least one-third of all the Members of the House shall be necessary either to affirm a favorable resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the Committee, or override its contrary resolution. The vote of each Member shall be recorded,” according to Sec 3 (3) of Article XI. 

“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,” it added. 

The approved resolution shall be endorsed to the Senate which will try to convict the impeached official. An official shall be convicted if two-thirds of the Senate votes. —KG, GMA Integrated News