Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is facing an impeachment grievance over allegations he profited from anomalous infrastructure contracts, escalating political pressure amid a multibillion-peso graft scandal.
The grievance, endorsed on Monday by House Deputy Minority Leader and Party-list Rep. Jernie Jett V. Nisay and filed by lawyer Andre R. de Jesus, cited five grounds for removal, including three directly tied to the flood-control scandal, in response to cell phone photos of the 12-page impeachment grievance circulated to media.
“The proliferation of ghost flood-control projects nationwide confirms the existence of a coordinated and deliberate effort to plunder public funds,” it said.
House of Representatives Secretary-General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil confirmed receiving the impeachment grievance.
‘This grievance will probably be transmitted to Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ G. Dy III in accordance with the Structure and the principles of the House of Representatives,” she said in an announcement.
Mr. Nisay, whom the Independent Commission for Infrastructure last 12 months sought to be charged by the ombudsman with plunder resulting from his alleged links to anomalous flood-control projects, said he expects the impeachment process against Mr. Marcos to start out when the grievance gets referred to the justice committee on Jan. 26, when Congress resumes session.
“We imagine that within the Structure… nobody, not even the President, is above the law,” he told reporters after the grievance’s filing.
The grievance comes as Mr. Marcos’ administration struggles to contain fallout from a scandal involving billions of pesos in flood control funds. Several officials, politicians and personal contractors are accused of diverting P100 billion from P545 billion spent on flood-control projects since 2022 to a handful of contractors, in response to government reports.
The President’s office established an independent fact-finding body to research the controversy, however the grievance describes it as “a ploy reeking of desperation,” claiming the panel selectively targets political opponents while shielding allies.
Last week, Mr. Marcos suggested the commission’s mandate might end after two top commissioners resigned, leaving doubts over its effectiveness.
The grievance also accuses Mr. Marcos of betraying public trust by failing to veto unprogrammed funds in past budgets, which critics say are vulnerable to corruption.
It also cites his decision to send former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity in his anti-drug campaign, alleging he bypassed domestic legal processes.
“From the outset of his term, his administration has been plagued with corruption scandals, budgetary manipulation and systemic misuse of public funds — all traceable to decisions made or sanctioned at the best level,” in response to the grievance.
Lawmakers from the opposition party Makabayan welcomed the filing. Party-list Reps. Antonio L. Tinio, Renee Louise M. Co, and Sarah Jane Elago said their bloc would pursue its own impeachment initiative.
“We imagine that the premise for impeachment is present within the systematic plunder of the budget,” they said in an announcement.
Under the 1987 Structure, impeachment may be pursued for culpable violation of the Structure, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. A grievance requires endorsement from no less than one-third of House members before it might probably be sent to the Senate, which convenes as an impeachment court.
House officials said the grievance is prepared for review.
“The judgment rests upon the person members, and this will probably be voted on by the plenary and the justice committee,” House Justice Committee member Batangas Rep. Gerville R. Luistro said. She added that the method would examine whether the filing is “sufficient in form and substance.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio