Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the oath-taking of the new officers of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang Palace, Manila, on October 7, 2025.
Taking their oath before the President were San Juan City Mayor Francis Javier M. Zamora, LCP President; Echague, Isabela Mayor Faustino A. Dy V, LMP President; Rep. Joseph Sto. Niño B. Bernos, LMP President Emeritus; and Roxas City Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas, LCP National Vice Chairperson. Mark Balmores, PPA pool

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MARCOS

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A House panel will begin the proceedings of the impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said, adding he sees some of the allegations falling short.</p><p>Ridon, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said the panel will determine the sufficiency in form and substance of the impeachment complaints based on constitutional standards and on evidence.</p><p>“Handa po ang buong committee na dinggin ‘yung dalawang tanong — sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance — nung dalawang impeachment complaints na filed laban kay Pangulong Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr,” he added. </p><p>(The whole committee is ready to deliberate on the two questions — sufficiency in form and sufficiency in substance — of the two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand Bongbong R. Marcos Jr.)</p><p>The Committee on Public Accounts chair said the complainants will be given the opportunity to lay down the grounds of their accusations.</p><p>Complainant Atty. Andre de Jesus, in the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/19/marcos-impeachment-complaint-1004">first complaint</a> filed January 19, cited Marcos’ supposed “order” and “enabling” of the alleged “kidnapping” and surrender of former President Rodrigo Duterte to the International Criminal Court. </p><p>This, he said, was carried out “without a valid Philippine warrant”, and despite the continued operation of Philippine courts.</p><p>De Jesus also alleges Marcos Jr. is unfit for public office because of rumored drug use — an allegation that the president has repeatedly denied — and that he failed to act against &quot;unconstitutional&quot; provisions in national budget bills he signed into law.</p><p>The<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/26/makabayan-refiles-marcos-impeachment-complaint-1052"> second complaint</a> was filed by progressive group leaders and House members from the Makabayan bloc on January 26.</p><p>It cites Marcos’ alleged betrayal of public trust by packing the national budget with projects aimed at redirecting funds to allies.</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘FALL SHORT OF CONSTITUTIONAL GROUNDS’</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Ridon said some portions of the impeachment complaints fall short of the constitutional grounds required for impeachment.</p><p>He said Duterte’s arrest was made in accordance with the Philippines&#x27; commitment to assist Interpol.</p><p>“So tingin ko walang impeachable offense sa ganyang bagay,” he said. </p><p>(I think there is no impeachable offense for that matter.)</p><p>“It does not rise to a culpable violation of the Constitution. It does not rise to a betrayal of public trust,” he added. </p><p>The unprogrammed allocations, which the second complaint cited, had been in the budget since 1989 and are not a culpable violation of the Constitution, according to Ridon. </p><p>“I don’t think the Supreme Court had ever stated that this is an unconstitutional provision in the national budget,” he said. </p><p>Ridon stressed that impeachment must be grounded on facts and evidence, not speculation.</p><p>“Impeachment proceedings will always be based on facts, it will be based on evidence, and decisions relating to impeachment will be based on the conscience of every House Member,” he said. <strong>— with reports from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/29/-very-proper-marcos-jr-lauds-son-sandro-s-inhibition-from-impeachment-proceedings-1019">‘Very proper’: Marcos Jr. lauds son Sandro’s inhibition from impeachment proceedings</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x5U6-SRcf60?si=8zAEL3rau-2NVPHA" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon Ridon, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said the panel will determine the sufficiency in form and substance of the impeachment complaints based on constitutional standards and on evidence.</p>

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon Ridon, a member of the House Committee on Justice, said the panel will determine the sufficiency in form and substance of the impeachment complaints based on constitutional standards and on evidence.

Ridon: Allegations vs Marcos Jr. may fall short of being impeachable offenses

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Ridon: Allegations vs Marcos Jr. may fall short of being impeachable offenses

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 01, 2026 02:14 PM PHT

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Terry Ridon

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

impeachment

House of Representatives

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