Lawyer Files Impeachment Complaint Against Philippines’ Marcos Over Duterte’s ICC Arrest

A lawyer has filed an impeachment complaint against Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., accusing him of betraying public trust by allegedly allowing former president Rodrigo Duterte to be arrested and taken to The Hague for trial. The complaint, lodged on Monday by Andre De Jesus, described the move against Duterte as an act of “kidnapping,” echoing claims made by Duterte’s family.

Duterte, who served as president from 2016 to 2022, was arrested in March and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over thousands of killings linked to his controversial war on drugs. The complaint also alleges constitutional violations by Marcos, citing supposed budget irregularities, failure to respond to alleged graft in flood control projects, and his alleged silence over accusations of drug use that have raised questions about his fitness to govern.

Malacañang said it respects the democratic process and expressed confidence that Congress will perform its duties with integrity, adding that the President will continue to govern and keep public services uninterrupted. The filing comes nearly a year after the House impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, which was later struck down by the Supreme Court for violating the Constitution’s one-year bar rule. While the lower house remains dominated by Marcos allies—raising doubt over whether the complaint will advance—political tensions remain high ahead of the 2028 presidential race, where Sara Duterte is widely seen as a strong contender.

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