MANILA, Philippines — The political landscape is heating up as the Makabayan bloc prepares to file its own impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., just hours after the first official complaint was lodged at the House of Representatives.
The progressive coalition, led by Representatives Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers), Sarah Elago (Gabriela), and Renee Co (Kabataan), announced on Monday that their upcoming rap will focus specifically on “systematic plunder” related to the national budget. Their primary targets include the ballooning unprogrammed funds used for anomalous flood control projects and allegations of massive kickbacks in Palace-backed infrastructure schemes.
The One-Year Rule Trap The announcement has triggered a “race against the clock.” Bukidnon Representative Jonathan Keith Flores warned that according to the 1987 Constitution, only one impeachment proceeding can be initiated against the same official per year.
“Once the first one is deemed initiated, it sets a bar for all others,” Flores explained. He urged any parties intending to file complaints to do so immediately to avoid being barred by the “one-year bar rule.” This legal technicality means if the first complaint moves forward into a formal proceeding, no other complaints against the President can be accepted for another 365 days.
A Growing List of Allegations The first complaint, filed earlier on Monday by lawyer Andre de Jesus and endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Rep. Jernie Jett Nisay, cites six grounds for impeachment. These include:
- The unprogrammed funds and flood control mess (overlapping with Makabayan’s focus).
- Alleged involvement in the “kidnapping” of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the ICC.
- Accusations of drug use impairing presidential leadership.
- Betrayal of public trust regarding Constitutional violations.
Accountability at the Top For the Makabayan bloc, the move is born out of a perceived lack of investigation from government agencies. “Impeachment becomes an important venue for accountability when no other office has launched an investigation into the President’s involvement in these infrastructure scandals,” the bloc stated in a joint release.
This latest move comes on the heels of the chaotic impeachment attempt against Vice President Sara Duterte in late 2024 and early 2025, which was eventually declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court for violating the same one-year bar rule. Lawmakers are now moving more cautiously, aware that any procedural misstep could sink their efforts before the trial even begins.