President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has welcomed the dismissal of two impeachment complaints filed against him in the House of Representatives, with Malacañang saying the Chief Executive now wants to “move forward” and focus on economic recovery and governance.

MANILA, Philippines — February 4, 2026 — Malacañang officials said Wednesday that President Marcos Jr. was “pleased” with the outcome of the House Committee on Justice deliberations, which junked two impeachment complaints for being insufficient in substance. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro explained that the President’s reaction was centered on gratitude that lawmakers followed due process and recognized the lack of merit in the allegations.

“Unang-una po ay ikinatutuwa po natin na nasunod ang proseso at nagpapasalamat po tayo na nakita po ng mga mambabatas kung ano po talaga ang katotohanan, doon po tayo lagi sa katotohanan,” Castro said. She added that Marcos is now focused on national priorities, emphasizing, “Sa ngayon po, tutok po ang Pangulo sa pag-angat ng ekonomiya ng bansa kaya’t sabi po niya, ‘Let’s move forward.’”

The impeachment complaints, filed separately by lawyer Andre de Jesus and members of the Makabayan bloc, accused Marcos of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. While both were earlier deemed sufficient in form, the House justice panel ruled that they lacked substance, effectively ending the impeachment bid. The first complaint was dismissed with a 42-1-1 vote, while the second was junked with 39 lawmakers voting against it and only seven in favor.

Malacañang stressed that the President is determined to move past the controversy and concentrate on pressing issues such as economic growth, infrastructure development, and national security. The Palace also underscored that Marcos respects the legislative process and appreciates the decision of lawmakers to examine the complaints thoroughly before dismissing them.

The dismissal of the impeachment complaints has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters of the President hailed the decision as proof of his political stability and legislative backing, while critics accused the House of shielding him from accountability. Advocacy groups aligned with the opposition vowed to continue pressing for transparency and reforms despite the setback.

For now, Marcos Jr. has made clear that he intends to put the impeachment issue behind him and redirect his administration’s energy toward governance, signaling a desire to strengthen public confidence and maintain political momentum.

Moving Forward Without a Reckoning

Procedural dismissal offers leaders a clean exit from political scrutiny. Once complaints are ruled insufficient, the narrative can quickly shift from accountability to continuity, allowing governance messaging to regain center stage.

The call to “move forward” is often framed as stability, but it can also function as a reset that bypasses deeper institutional reflection. Impeachment may end on paper, yet public questions about oversight and checks remain unresolved in practice.

If accountability efforts end through procedure alone, does moving forward strengthen governance or simply postpone the reckoning?