The first impeachment complaint against President Bongbong Marcos was formally filed with the House of Representatives on Monday, according to documents received by the Office of the Secretary General.
The verified complaint was filed by lawyer Andre R. de Jesus and endorsed by Deputy Minority Leader and Pusong Pinoy party-list Rep. Jernie J. Nisay, satisfying the constitutional requirement that an impeachment complaint be endorsed by a sitting member of the House. House records show that the filing was officially received by Secretary General Cheloy E. Velicaria-Garafil during the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress.
The impeachment complaint cites graft and corruption, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust as grounds for removal from office. It alleges that the president failed to veto provisions on unprogrammed appropriations and other sections of the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026. According to the complaint, these provisions allegedly enabled budget insertions and irregularities related to flood control projects.
The filing further alleges that the president benefited from kickbacks arising from budget insertions and so-called ghost flood control projects. It also includes allegations regarding the creation of the Infrastructure Coordination Initiative, which the complaint claims was used to protect political allies.
The complaint additionally raises allegations concerning the arrest and transfer of former President Rody Duterte to the International Criminal Court, asserting that the action compromised national sovereignty and violated constitutional principles of due process.
During media interviews following the filing, de Jesus explained why allegations related to the president’s fitness to govern were included in the complaint.
“For some it might be laughable, for some it might be trivial, but an allegation that a sitting president might be somehow involved in an addiction of some sort to prohibited drugs should be alarming,” de Jesus said.
Under House rules, a verified impeachment complaint must be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days and referred to the House Committee on Justice within three session days. The committee is required to evaluate whether the complaint is sufficient in form and substance and to determine the existence of probable cause.
If the committee finds probable cause, the matter may be elevated to the House plenary. At least one-third of all House members must vote in favor of the Articles of Impeachment for the case to be transmitted to the Senate, which would convene as an impeachment court to conduct a trial.
This filing marks the first impeachment complaint lodged against President Marcos since he assumed office in 2022.
