Marcos Jr. Faces Impeachment Complaint Alleging Corruption, Constitutional Violations

Lawyer Andre De Jesus files an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, January 19, 2026.

Marcos Faces Impeachment Complaint for Corruption, Constitutional Violations

By Bing Jabadan & Wilma N. Yamzon – TheNATIONWEEK.com | January 19, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – An impeachment complaint has been filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for alleged “culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.”

The complaint, submitted to the House of Representatives on Monday, was filed by lawyer Andre De Jesus.

In a 14-page document, the complaint outlines six grounds:

Alleged “Kidnapping” of former President Rodrigo Duterte:

• De Jesus accuses Marcos of enabling the “kidnapping” and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges related to his administration’s controversial drug war.

Alleged Drug Use:

• The complaint claims Marcos is a drug addict, which allegedly impairs his judgment and leadership abilities.

Unconstitutional Budget Allocations:

• De Jesus alleges Marcos failed to veto unprogrammed appropriations and other unconstitutional provisions in the General Appropriations Acts for 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Flood Control Kickbacks:

• The complaint directly accuses Marcos of benefiting from kickbacks linked to budget insertions and “ghost” flood control projects.

Shielding Corrupt Allies:

• De Jesus claims the President created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to shield corrupt allies from scrutiny.

Betrayal of Public Trust:

• The complaint reiterates the allegation that surrendering Duterte to the ICC constitutes a betrayal of public trust and a violation of the Constitution.

Duterte ‘Kidnapping’ Claims Fuel Controversy

A point of contention in the impeachment complaint revolves around the alleged “kidnapping” of former President Duterte.

De Jesus argues that Marcos, who ran alongside Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, in 2022, betrayed their alliance by allowing Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the ICC.

The complaint alleges that on March 11, 2025, Duterte was prevented from leaving the country and subsequently transferred to the ICC without a valid Philippine warrant, an act De Jesus describes as “kidnapping under the guise of state authority.”

“Respondent (Marcos) rose to power through political unity with the ‘Duterte Bloc,’ only to later betray that alliance in the most treacherous manner,” De Jesus said.

He further argued that the government’s decision to “surrender” a former president is a “direct affront to national sovereignty and a blatant violation of constitutional guarantees of due process.”

Corruption Allegations, ‘Ghost’ Projects

The complaint also raises serious allegations of corruption, specifically regarding alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects.

De Jesus cites claims made by former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, who implicated Marcos in an infrastructure corruption scheme involving “ghost” flood control projects.

“The proliferation of ghost flood control projects nationwide confirms a coordinated and deliberate effort to plunder public funds. Such large-scale corruption could not have occurred without presidential approval,” he explained.

He further referenced Co’s claim that Marcos, through former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, directed him to include P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 budget.

Palace Responds, Calls for ‘Immediate Action’

In response to the allegations, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that “immediate action is necessary” on claims against the President.

However, the Palace has yet to release a statement addressing the specific accusations in the complaint.

Diversionary Tactic or Legitimate Grievance?

The timing of the impeachment complaint, just months before Marcos’ State of the Nation Address, raises questions about its motivations.

Observers speculate that it could be a diversionary tactic aimed at distracting the public from other pressing issues, such as the ongoing investigation into alleged kickbacks related to flood control projects.

Others argue that the complaint reflects genuine concerns about the President’s conduct and the need for accountability.

The impeachment complaint now rests with the House of Representatives, which will determine whether there are sufficient grounds to proceed with the impeachment complaint.