House of Representatives Officially Begins Impeachment Proceedings Against President Marcos Jr.
In a significant political development, the House of Representatives formally referred two verified impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the House Committee on Justice on Monday, January 26, 2026. This move marks the official start of impeachment proceedings and triggers the Constitution's one-year bar on initiating new impeachment complaints against the sitting president.
Plenary Session Advances Complaints to Justice Panel
During a plenary session, the complaints were included in the Order of Business and were forwarded for the evaluation of the justice panel. The first impeachment complaint against Marcos was filed on January 19, 2026, by lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Party-list Representative Jett Nisay. It involves six grounds, including:
- The alleged "kidnapping" of former President Rodrigo Duterte
- The President's alleged accountability on anomalous flood control projects
- Irregularities in the national budgets for 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026
- Allegations of drug addiction
On the morning of January 26, a group of activists and private individuals filed the second impeachment complaint against Marcos. This complaint is based on betrayal of public trust stemming from the misuse of public funds, particularly for the implementation of flood control projects. It was referred by members of the Makabayan bloc, including Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, Sarah Elago of Gabriela, and Renee Co of Kabataan party-list.
Committee on Justice to Review Complaints Under Constitutional Rules
Under House rules and constitutional provisions, the Committee on Justice will now review both complaints to determine whether they are sufficient in form and substance to proceed. During this phase, complainants and Marcos' legal team may present affidavits, evidence, and other submissions. The justice panel, chaired by Batangas Representative Gerville "Jinkybitrics" Luistro, will submit its recommendation to the House within 60 session days of the referral.
The plenary will then consider the committee's report. A vote by at least one-third of all House members would be required to affirm any articles of impeachment. This process underscores the constitutional safeguards in place for such proceedings, ensuring a thorough and legal evaluation of the allegations against the president.
