Bayan to file 2nd Marcos impeach raps over budget, flood control scandal

MANILA, Philippines — Progressive coalition Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is set to file on Wednesday, January 22, a second impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for betrayal of public trust in connection with the national budget and the multibillion-peso flood control scandal.

In a statement, Bayan president Renato Reyes said the complaint — which will be endorsed by the three-member Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives — is based, among others, on the systematic and large-scale plunder of public funds through a scheme of presidential and congressional “allocations” for pet projects in the national budget.

The complaint is also expected to cite the “unprecedented abuse of unprogrammed appropriations,” which has long been flagged by ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, as well as an alleged kickback scheme that emerged from the misuse of the national budget.

READ: Makabayan: Secret funds swell to P12B in 2026 budget

“The system of ‘allocables’ and unprogrammed appropriations remains to this day. The SOPs and kickbacks involving top officials of the administration have not been investigated,” Reyes said.

“These only demonstrate the President’s complicity in corruption. Everyone involved must be held accountable, starting from the top,” he added.

Apart from members of allied organizations, Reyes said the complainants include taxpayers, workers, farmers, students, teachers, the urban poor, professionals, and anti-corruption advocates.

Time is of the essence for the filing of the second complaint, as House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil confirmed that the first impeachment complaint filed last week by lawyer Andre de Jesus has already been transmitted to the Speaker’s office as of Wednesday.

Once the first complaint is referred to the House committee on justice and deemed initiated, any subsequent impeachment complaint would be barred for one year.

READ: Makabayan set to file own impeachment complaint; solon’s advice is to hurry

Reyes said he expects the verified complaint to be transmitted to the Speaker and included in the order of business, and not excluded in favor of what he described as a weak first complaint allegedly intended to shield the President. /jpv