The Makabayan bloc on Tuesday condemned the House of Representatives for dismissing the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., calling the move a deliberate effort to shield the chief executive from accountability.
“This is not the end of the search for accountability—it is only the beginning. The Filipino people will not allow the highest official of the land to escape responsibility for systematic corruption simply because his allies in Congress chose to shield him from justice,” the bloc said in a statement.
The group accused the House majority of advancing what it described as baseless and dishonest arguments to justify the dismissal of the complaint.
The Makabayan bloc rejected claims that the impeachment bid lacked evidence, stressing that the plenary vote came at a stage where evidence is not yet weighed.
“Hindi pa ito ang yugto ng pagpapakita at pagkilatis ng ebidensya. This is not yet the stage for weighing evidence—that comes during determination of probable cause and trial,” the group said, adding that dismissing the complaint on the ground that no evidence was presented was “a blatant lie.”
According to the bloc, the impeachment complaint was supported by documentary records and sworn testimonies, including the so-called BBM Parametric Formula issued in July 2022, which it said institutionalized corruption by allowing leadership priorities to guide budget allocations.
The complaint, it added, cited Special Allotment Release Orders authorizing P213.8 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, allegedly tied to kickbacks in flood control projects. The group said whistleblower Roberto Bernardo submitted sworn affidavits detailing alleged kickbacks involving senators and executive officials, including Undersecretaries Trygve Olayvar and Adrian Bersamin.
“Mayroon pong ebidensya sa lahat—ang alegasyon na direktang lumahok at nakinabang si Pangulong Marcos sa flood control corruption sa pamamagitan ng pag-utos ng insertions at pagtanggap ng kickback,” the bloc said.
The statement further alleged that communications between Bersamin and the President from December 2024 to July 2025 showed direct presidential involvement in the alleged scheme, including reports of cash deliveries and instructions acknowledged by the President.
The bloc also disputed claims that the complaint failed to specify acts attributable to the President, saying it detailed three: institutionalizing corruption through the BBM Parametric Formula, abusing discretionary power over unprogrammed appropriations, and direct participation in kickback schemes.
“Ang Presidente ang nag-utos. Ang Presidente ang nag-apruba. Ang Presidente ang nakinabang,” it said.
The group dismissed calls to “move on” following the dismissal of the impeachment complaint, saying accountability cannot be set aside.
“Moving on without accountability is not healing—it is impunity. Hindi kami mag-mo-move on. Walang pag-move on habang walang accountability,” it said.
Despite the setback, the bloc said the impeachment’s dismissal would not end efforts to hold the President accountable, warning that the controversy exposed what it described as a deeply flawed political system.
The Makabayan bloc called on the public to mobilize on 25 February 2026, the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, to demand accountability from President Marcos Jr.
“Hindi natin hahayaang makaligtas muli ang mga Marcos. We will not allow corruption and impunity to triumph over the people's demand for truth and accountability,” the statement said.