Two New Impeachment Complaints vs Marcos Rejected Over Absence of House Official

Fresh impeachment efforts against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. hit a procedural roadblock on Tuesday after two separate complaints were brought to the House of Representatives but were not formally accepted due to the absence of the House secretary general, triggering renewed debate over constitutional rules and legislative accountability.

Former Bryan Luna lawmakers Teddy Casino and Nero Companies were unable to file their 37-page impeachment complaint at the Office of the Secretary General, as were supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte led by former Locos SUR governor Luis “Chain” Singsong and former congressman Mike Defense. The complaints were reportedly turned away because House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil was not present to personally receive the documents.

Garafil, according to House officials, was attending an official engagement in Taiwan at the time. As secretary general, one of her primary duties is to receive verified and duly endorsed impeachment complaints and immediately transmit them to the Office of the Speaker.

Companies and Casino disputed the House staff’s refusal to accept their filing, arguing that the Constitution and House rules do not require the physical presence of the secretary general for an impeachment complaint to be considered filed.

“It is not our fault that the secretary general is absent,” Casino said, recalling his exchange with House staff. “Under the Constitution and House rules, submission to the Office of the Secretary General should be sufficient.”

Colmenares echoed this view, insisting that the act of submitting the complaint to the office already constitutes filing. “For us, that impeachment complaint is deemed filed because we delivered it to the Office of the Secretary General,” he said in an interview over radio DBB.

He questioned the motive behind the refusal, describing the act as “highly suspicious.” “Receiving an impeachment complaint is ministerial in nature. There is no legal basis for refusing to accept it,” Colmenares added.

The Makabayan-backed impeachment complaint was endorsed by party-list Representatives Sarah Elago of Gabriela, Renee Co of Kabataan, and Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers. The complaint cites three articles of impeachment, including the alleged institutionalization of systemic corruption and patronage, abuse of discretionary power over programmed appropriations, and alleged personal involvement in kickback schemes.

A video released by Makabayan lawmakers showed executive director Jose Marmoi Salonga politely declining to receive the impeachment documents, saying he lacked the authority to do so. Tinio was also seen attempting to have the complaint officially marked as “received” by a clerk, but his request was denied. The complainants later left the documents on a desk inside the office.

Following the failed filing, Singson and Defense held a press conference accusing the Marcos administration of widespread corruption. Defense said they were exploring other legal remedies, including elevating the matter to the Supreme Court, though he did not provide further details.

In contrast, the first impeachment complaint filed earlier by private lawyer Andre de Jesus was successfully transmitted by Garafil to the Office of Speaker Faustino Dy III, signaling that the House’s internal impeachment process had already begun.

Lana del SUR Representative Zia Alonto Adiong downplayed concerns over Garafil’s absence, stressing that impeachment proceedings remain governed by the Constitution and long-standing House rules.

“Impeachment is a serious constitutional mechanism,” Adiong said. “The House will continue to discharge its duties in an orderly, rules-based, and transparent manner.”

He explained that once an impeachment complaint is formally filed, it must be referred to the House committee on justice to determine its sufficiency in form and substance, clarifying that such referral does not prejudge the outcome.

Meanwhile, Malaccan reiterated that President Marcos committed no impeachable offense. Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro challenged the complainants to substantiate allegations related to the so-called “BBM parametric formula,” which critics have labeled as “pork barrel by design.”

Castro maintained that the burden of proof rests with the complainants, emphasizing that accusations must be backed by clear and credible evidence.