The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice dismissed two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (BBM) on February 4, 2026, for lack of substance.
Unless the entire assembly overturns the committee’s ruling with a one-third vote, the decision grants President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. a one-year protection from impeachment, as the Constitution allows an impeachable official to face only one impeachment proceeding per year.
The first complaint, filed by lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Representative Jernie Jett Nisay, was rejected by a 42–1 vote, with three lawmakers abstaining. Lawmakers said the petition relied on speculation, hearsay, and media reports rather than evidence. Allegations included illegal drug use, corruption, and the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to protect allies, but the committee concluded these did not constitute impeachable offenses.
The complaint also cited the statement made by Marcos Jr.’s sister Imee, a senator, which alleged that her brother and the First Family are drug addicts. The Palace has denied the accusations.
The 14-page complaint also accused Marcos Jr. of facilitating former president Rodrigo Duterte’s surrender to the International Criminal Court (ICC), failing to veto allegedly unconstitutional budget provisions, and involvement in alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects. Lawmakers dismissed the claims as weak and unsubstantiated.
A second complaint, filed by the Makabayan Coalition, focused on the so-called “BBM Parametric Formula,” alleging it was used to justify infrastructure allocations that may have enabled kickbacks. In addition, it faulted the president for the national budget and flood control controversies, claiming he failed to veto unprogrammed appropriations allegedly used for kickbacks.
Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte is facing a new round of impeachment complaints after the Supreme Court ruled that the one-year bar against successive filings expired on January 14, 2026.
Two separate complaints – one filed by the Makabayan Coalition and another by civil society group Tindig Pilipinas – were submitted on February 2, 2026. They were forwarded to the House of Representatives’ speaker’s office on February 5, according to House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil.
The complaints accuse Duterte of misusing 612.5 million Pesos in confidential funds, graft and corruption, abuse of power, gross incompetence, and tolerance of extrajudicial killings. Some allegations refer to her tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education and as Davao City mayor. Duterte’s lawyers have denied the allegations, describing them as baseless.
A group of priests, nuns and lawyers filed a third impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte on February 9, 2026, also accusing her of misusing confidential funds, corrupting Department of Education officials during her tenure as its head, and threatening to assassinate President Marcos Jr. Duterte has denied the allegations.
Duterte’s legal team said it expected the new complaint and would address it through proper constitutional processes.
The complaints follow a prior impeachment attempt in February 2025, which was invalidated by the Supreme Court for violating constitutional rules.
Political analysts say Marcos Jr.’s strong support in the House of Representatives makes an impeachment unlikely, while Duterte’s lack of consolidated legislative backing increases the likelihood that her cases could move forward, though their outcome remains uncertain.
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