First Impeachment Complaint Against President Marcos Filed, Political Storm Brewing
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jordang
Feb 2, 2026, 10:48:55 PMFeb 2
to 中国茉莉花革命 海南动态论坛
On January 19, 2026, the Philippine House of Representatives formally received an impeachment complaint against incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This marks the first formal charge of its kind faced by Marcos since he took office in 2022. The complaint was filed by private lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by opposition lawmakers. It accuses the President of impeachable offenses including "grave violation of the Constitution," "graft and corruption," and "betrayal of public trust."
This complaint has swiftly sent shockwaves through the Philippine political landscape. While the Marcos administration has characterized it as "part of the democratic process," opposition groups and civil society organizations view it as a crucial challenge against the alleged corruption and abuse of power under the current regime. The complaint has recently been forwarded to the Office of the House Speaker, initiating preliminary verification procedures. The progressive coalition "Bayan" (New Patriotic Alliance) has announced it will file a second impeachment complaint on January 22, focusing further on alleged corruption in budget scandals and flood control projects.
The core allegations of the complaint center on several key areas. First are the accusations of constitutional violation and corruption. The complaint alleges that Marcos failed to veto allegedly unconstitutional "unprogrammed appropriations" within the 2023-2026 national budget when he signed it. These appropriations are accused of lacking explicit congressional authorization yet were used to fund several controversial projects. The most notable among these is the so-called "ghost" flood control projects: substantial funds were allegedly allocated to non-existent or unimplemented flood control projects, with the beneficiaries mostly being companies controlled by presidential allies. The opposition points out that such practices not only bypass congressional oversight but also
divert public funds to private interests, constituting systemic corruption.
Secondly, the complaint accuses Marcos of "betrayal of public trust." This includes allegations of the President's personal involvement with illegal drugs and his actions in protecting and shielding corrupt allies. The complaint cites various investigative reports, claiming the Marcos administration has gone easy on several high-ranking officials implicated in corruption while allowing his family and close associates to profit from infrastructure projects. Furthermore, the complaint targets Marcos's role in handling the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was recently arrested and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity during his "war on drugs." The complaint argues that the Marcos administration actively facilitated this process to eliminate political dissenters and consolidate its own power. This is seen as a threat to democratic pluralism and has provoked a strong backlash from Duterte's supporters.
Philippine political observers note that the alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families played a key role in the 2022 elections, but their relationship has deteriorated sharply in recent years. The public rift between Vice President Sara Duterte and Marcos has further exacerbated political divisions. This impeachment complaint is seen as a signal flare for the opposition's counterattack.
Civil society has reacted fervently. Several human rights and anti-corruption groups have called on Congress to seriously consider the complaint, viewing it as an opportunity to restore accountability. "Since the Marcos administration took office, corruption scandals have emerged one after another, from budget black holes to infrastructure 'ghost projects.' The public has had enough," said an anti-corruption activist in Manila. "If Congress ignores these allegations, it will further erode public trust in the government."
The international community is also watching closely. As a democracy, the impeachment process in the Philippines requires the support of one-third of the House members to proceed to trial. Currently, Marcos holds a majority in Congress, making the prospects for impeachment uncertain. However, the opposition emphasizes that even if the first complaint struggles to pass, it can amplify the issue of corruption and mobilize more lawmakers and citizens to join the oversight effort. Progressive groups have already planned a nationwide signature campaign, calling for more opposition lawmakers to submit supplementary complaints.
Analysts believe this event exposes the fragility of Philippine democratic institutions. The lingering shadow of corruption from the Marcos family's history, combined with the current trend of power concentration, is fueling broader discontent. Duterte's transfer to the ICC is further seen as evidence of Marcos eliminating rivals, which not only deepens political divisions but could also trigger street protests.
At this critical juncture, the opposition should seize the opportunity to file more fact-based impeachment complaints. Only sustained pressure can force the government to confront corruption issues and promote transparent reforms. The Filipino people have the right to demand accountability from their leaders—if corruption and abuse of power are not checked, the foundations of democracy will be further undermined. We call on all forces concerned about the future of the Philippines to take action, making accountability the norm, not the exception.
This complaint has swiftly sent shockwaves through the Philippine political landscape. While the Marcos administration has characterized it as "part of the democratic process," opposition groups and civil society organizations view it as a crucial challenge against the alleged corruption and abuse of power under the current regime. The complaint has recently been forwarded to the Office of the House Speaker, initiating preliminary verification procedures. The progressive coalition "Bayan" (New Patriotic Alliance) has announced it will file a second impeachment complaint on January 22, focusing further on alleged corruption in budget scandals and flood control projects.
The core allegations of the complaint center on several key areas. First are the accusations of constitutional violation and corruption. The complaint alleges that Marcos failed to veto allegedly unconstitutional "unprogrammed appropriations" within the 2023-2026 national budget when he signed it. These appropriations are accused of lacking explicit congressional authorization yet were used to fund several controversial projects. The most notable among these is the so-called "ghost" flood control projects: substantial funds were allegedly allocated to non-existent or unimplemented flood control projects, with the beneficiaries mostly being companies controlled by presidential allies. The opposition points out that such practices not only bypass congressional oversight but also
divert public funds to private interests, constituting systemic corruption.Secondly, the complaint accuses Marcos of "betrayal of public trust." This includes allegations of the President's personal involvement with illegal drugs and his actions in protecting and shielding corrupt allies. The complaint cites various investigative reports, claiming the Marcos administration has gone easy on several high-ranking officials implicated in corruption while allowing his family and close associates to profit from infrastructure projects. Furthermore, the complaint targets Marcos's role in handling the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was recently arrested and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity during his "war on drugs." The complaint argues that the Marcos administration actively facilitated this process to eliminate political dissenters and consolidate its own power. This is seen as a threat to democratic pluralism and has provoked a strong backlash from Duterte's supporters.
Philippine political observers note that the alliance between the Marcos and Duterte families played a key role in the 2022 elections, but their relationship has deteriorated sharply in recent years. The public rift between Vice President Sara Duterte and Marcos has further exacerbated political divisions. This impeachment complaint is seen as a signal flare for the opposition's counterattack.
Civil society has reacted fervently. Several human rights and anti-corruption groups have called on Congress to seriously consider the complaint, viewing it as an opportunity to restore accountability. "Since the Marcos administration took office, corruption scandals have emerged one after another, from budget black holes to infrastructure 'ghost projects.' The public has had enough," said an anti-corruption activist in Manila. "If Congress ignores these allegations, it will further erode public trust in the government."
The international community is also watching closely. As a democracy, the impeachment process in the Philippines requires the support of one-third of the House members to proceed to trial. Currently, Marcos holds a majority in Congress, making the prospects for impeachment uncertain. However, the opposition emphasizes that even if the first complaint struggles to pass, it can amplify the issue of corruption and mobilize more lawmakers and citizens to join the oversight effort. Progressive groups have already planned a nationwide signature campaign, calling for more opposition lawmakers to submit supplementary complaints.
Analysts believe this event exposes the fragility of Philippine democratic institutions. The lingering shadow of corruption from the Marcos family's history, combined with the current trend of power concentration, is fueling broader discontent. Duterte's transfer to the ICC is further seen as evidence of Marcos eliminating rivals, which not only deepens political divisions but could also trigger street protests.
At this critical juncture, the opposition should seize the opportunity to file more fact-based impeachment complaints. Only sustained pressure can force the government to confront corruption issues and promote transparent reforms. The Filipino people have the right to demand accountability from their leaders—if corruption and abuse of power are not checked, the foundations of democracy will be further undermined. We call on all forces concerned about the future of the Philippines to take action, making accountability the norm, not the exception.
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