Senior members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday downplayed the country’s first impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with lawmakers from both the majority and minority describing the filing as insufficient and politically misplaced.
Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, an assistant majority leader, said the complaint does not meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment, characterizing it as poorly defined and unsupported by concrete grounds. He cautioned against turning impeachment into a routine political maneuver, noting that even with a dominant majority, the process demands restraint and seriousness.
“Yes, we have a supermajority. It’s still a numbers game, it’s also political,” Adiong said. “That’s why we’re saying that an impeachment is not a joke. It’s not a light matter that you can take up any time of the day.”
Adiong underscored that impeachment proceedings fall solely within the House’s authority and must be handled as a constitutional obligation rather than a reaction to unproven claims.
“The process is a solemn duty that needs to be taken care of. It’s a constitutional mandate given exclusively to the House of Representatives. That’s why we have to take this very, very seriously,” he said.
He added that allegations against any impeachable official should not automatically result in the filing of a complaint, warning against haste and political grandstanding. “If there are concerns or issues that might hold the President or any impeachable officer accountable, you shouldn’t rush to file an impeachment complaint,” Adiong said.
Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice, a senior deputy minority leader, echoed the view, saying he would not support the complaint and dismissing it outright.
House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III also rejected the filing, calling it unjustifiable.
The 12-page complaint was lodged on Monday by lawyer Andre de Jesus and cited allegations of illegal drug use and irregularities in budget implementation—claims that Malacañang said had already been addressed in the past.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro denied reports linking De Jesus to First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, calling such assertions unfounded.
“If that allegation is the only basis for filing the impeachment, then most likely they couldn’t find any other reason,” Castro said.
She stressed that the First Lady has never filed a disbarment case, has no legal connection to De Jesus, and that any legal action he initiated was done independently.
Castro added that the administration respects constitutional processes and due process, and that the President remains focused on governance and ongoing probes into government spending concerns.
Adiong also pointed out that the accusations cited in the complaint rely largely on longstanding assertions made by critics and do not present new, verifiable evidence that would satisfy constitutional standards.
