As of January 19, 2026, a formal impeachment complaint has been filed against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (PBBM) in the House of Representatives. The complaint was submitted by lawyer Andre De Jesus and endorsed by Rep. Jernie Nisay (Pusong Pinoy Party-list).
1. Legal Basis and Grounds
The complainant has cited several specific grounds for impeachment, primarily falling under Culpable Violation of the Constitution, Graft and Corruption, and Betrayal of Public Trust.
The specific allegations include:
Surrender of Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC: The complaint alleges that Marcos “kidnapped” or allowed the illegal surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which the complainant argues violates due process and national sovereignty.
National Budget Issues: Alleged “flagrant failure” to veto unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024–2026 budgets. This includes the transfer of GOCC funds to the national treasury, a practice previously flagged by the Supreme Court.
Corruption and Kickbacks: Allegations of benefiting from “ghost” flood control projects and using the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) as a tool to shield allies while targeting opponents.
Personal Fitness: The complaint raises questions regarding the President’s fitness to govern, citing unproven allegations of drug use.
2. Chance to Prosper
Currently, the chances of the complaint prospering in the House of Representatives are considered extremely low.
Political “Mathematics”: Impeachment is a numbers game. PBBM maintains a “supermajority” coalition in the House. To move to the Senate, a complaint needs the support of one-third of all members (roughly 100+ votes). Most House leaders have already dismissed the complaint as “political noise” or “formless.”
The “One-Year Bar”: Under the Constitution, no impeachment proceedings can be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year. While this is the first formal complaint against PBBM, the House is currently cautious following a 2025 Supreme Court ruling that nullified previous impeachment attempts against the Vice President due to procedural errors.
Lack of Broad Endorsement: Only a few members of the minority bloc (largely those aligned with the Duterte family) have shown interest. Major power blocks like the National Unity Party (NUP) have already expressed that they will not support the move.
