MANILA — A lawyer on Monday filed an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accusing him of “betrayal of public trust” over the alleged decision to allow the arrest and transfer of former President Rodrigo Duterte to The Hague to face trial.
The complaint was filed by Andre De Jesus, who characterized the move against Duterte as “kidnapping,” echoing claims made by the former president’s family. The filing also alleges constitutional violations, citing purported budget irregularities, failure to act on alleged corruption involving flood control projects, and the president’s lack of response to accusations of drug use that have raised questions about his fitness to govern.
“We feel that this avenue would enable not just myself as complainant … but the Filipino people to thrash out all these matters which are being raised and are not answered at all by the president and his cabinet and his officers,” De Jesus told reporters, according to comments posted by DZRH radio on X.
In response, the Presidential Communications Office said the president respects the democratic 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.”
“While these processes take their course, the President will continue to govern, ensuring that public services remain uninterrupted and that the work of government stays focused on improving the lives of our people,” the statement added.
The filing comes nearly a year after the lower house impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, the daughter of the former president and an estranged ally of Marcos. The Supreme Court later struck down that impeachment for violating the Constitution’s one-year bar rule.
Although the House is no longer led by the president’s cousin, Martin Romualdez, who resigned as House Speaker after being linked to a flood control corruption scandal, it remains dominated by allies of the president, raising questions about whether the complaint will gain momentum.
Marcos, elected in 2022, is serving a single six-year term and is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election in 2028, leaving him with about two years remaining in office. Vice President Sara Duterte is widely viewed as a leading contender in the 2028 presidential race.
With reports from Reuters
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
