Duterte Supporters Launch Impeachment Bid Against Marcos Over ICC Transfer
In a dramatic political move, allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte attempted to file an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, accusing him of constitutional violations related to Duterte’s arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The impeachment effort, led by former Duterte Youth party-list Rep. Ronald Cardema and his wife Duceille Marie Cardema, stalled when they arrived at the House of Representatives only to find they couldn’t submit their complaint. The couple waited at the Office of the Secretary General until closing time but left empty-handed.
“We went there at 3:20 p.m. but were told only House Secretary General Reginald Velasco could receive the complaint,” Ronald Cardema told reporters. A notice on the office door indicated staff were attending a strategic planning session from May 6 to 8.
The Cardemas later issued a statement arguing that House rules don’t specifically require the Secretary General personally receive the document. “It is the ministerial duty for any government office to receive documents,” they insisted, citing the Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Proceedings.
Constitutional Violations Alleged
The 24-page complaint, endorsed by current Duterte Youth representative Drixie Mae Cardema, accuses President Marcos of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. At the heart of the controversy lies Duterte’s arrest by Interpol in March and subsequent transfer to face trial at the ICC.
“President Marcos ceded sovereign control over a domestic legal matter to an international body that no longer holds jurisdiction over the Philippines,” the complaint alleges. The Cardemas argue that by allowing Duterte’s arrest without proper judicial review in Philippine courts, Marcos violated constitutional principles of national sovereignty.
This marks the first impeachment attempt against Marcos since his public falling out with Vice President Sara Duterte, who herself faces an impeachment trial when Congress resumes in July. The political landscape has grown increasingly fractured as the Duterte and Marcos camps battle for control.
Palace Defends Actions as Legal
Malacañang Palace has consistently defended the legality of Duterte’s arrest, stating the Philippine government merely honored its Interpol commitments rather than cooperating directly with the ICC.
“The government acted in accordance with Section 17 of Republic Act No. 9851,” a Palace spokesperson said, referring to the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law. This law states authorities may “surrender or extradite suspected or accused persons in the Philippines to the appropriate international court.”
Speaker Martin Romualdez noted the complaint’s timing posed procedural challenges. “We’re not in session right now so not much can be done,” Romualdez told reporters in Tacloban City. Congress will resume session on June 2 and adjourn on June 13, leaving a narrow window for any impeachment proceedings.
Legal Experts Divided
The controversy has split legal experts. Some, including former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, insist Duterte should have first appeared before Philippine courts. Others, like retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, argue the arrest was valid under existing laws criminalizing crimes against humanity.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute that established the ICC, the country maintained “continuing obligations to cooperate” with the international body.
This legal ambiguity has fueled the political standoff, with the Cardemas claiming Marcos “exhibited gross inconsistency and bad faith, deceiving the Filipino people and failing to uphold his sworn duty to defend the Constitution.”
As both sides dig in, this attempted impeachment highlights the deepening political divide in the Philippines, with constitutional questions about sovereignty and international obligations at its center.
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