Philippine Congress Dismisses Impeachment Cases Against Marcos Jr. and Duterte
In Manila, legislators in the Philippines have dismissed impeachment charges against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., which accused him of engaging in significant corruption activities. The decision was made by the House of Representatives, led by the president’s supporters, citing “insufficient in substance” as the reason for dismissal.
Both President Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte faced separate impeachment filings. While Duterte’s cases primarily involve alleged corruption, the timeline for these proceedings remains uncertain.
The political landscape in the Philippines has been marked by tensions between Marcos and Duterte, former allies who have since become embroiled in political conflicts, further polarizing the country’s democratic framework.
The House justice committee, after deliberations, voted to reject the left-wing activists and a lawyer’s impeachment complaints against Marcos. The committee’s majority concluded that the allegations either lacked sufficient evidence or did not align with constitutional impeachment grounds.
One notable accusation involved Zaldy Co, a former lawmaker, who claimed that Marcos received substantial kickbacks from flood control projects. Co, now facing corruption charges and a warrant for his arrest, has denied wrongdoing and is currently evading authorities.
President Marcos expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We’re happy that the process was followed and that the lawmakers recognized the real truth,” according to Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro.
Conversely, Renato Reyes, representing the left-wing political group Bayan, criticized the decision, arguing it hindered accountability. “We were prepared to present evidence at the next stage,” Reyes noted.
Philippine law mandates a one-year interval before any new impeachment attempt can be initiated against top officials.
Previously, the House had voted to impeach Vice President Duterte, forwarding the case to the Senate. However, the Supreme Court later annulled this decision, citing a constitutional breach related to the processing of impeachment cases.
Following the lapse of the one-year restriction, two groups have filed new impeachment complaints against Duterte. These allegations concern the misuse of 612.5 million pesos ($10.3 million) in confidential funds during her tenure as vice president and education secretary under Marcos. Duterte has generally denied these allegations but has refrained from providing detailed clarifications in prior congressional hearings.
Additionally, in a controversial online statement in November 2024, Duterte allegedly threatened the president and other officials, which was also cited in the impeachment filings.
Vice President Duterte, daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained by the International Criminal Court for alleged human rights violations, remains a central figure in the unfolding political drama.
