FEBRUARY 11, 2026 — After a decisive vote in the House of Representatives, the two impeachment complaints filed against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. have been formally dismissed. With a tally of 284-8-4, lawmakers approved House Resolution 746, which contained Committee Report 111 from the House Committee on Justice. The ruling: the complaints were “insufficient in substance.”

Deputy Speaker Janette Garin declared plainly: “The impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. are hereby dismissed.” 

For the committee, the allegations lacked the necessary weight to move forward. Justice Committee chairperson Gerville Luistro stressed that impeachment should not be reduced to “political theater,” reminding colleagues that it is ‘sui generis’ — a unique constitutional safeguard meant to protect democracy, not weaponize rhetoric.

Given the overwhelming majority of administration allies in Congress, the outcome was hardly surprising. But what does this mean for ordinary Filipinos?

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President was “happy” with the dismissal. 

“Nasisiyahan po ang Pangulo sa naganap na proseso … Nakatuon siya sa pagsasagawa ng mga programang pang ekonomiya na mag-aangat sa buhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” she explained. 

(The President is pleased with the process … He is focused on implementing economic programs that will uplift the lives of Filipino families.)

If Marcos is indeed shifting his focus fully toward economic programs, that’s where the public will be watching. Inflation, rice prices, and job scarcity — these are the real impeachment trials faced daily by Filipinos. 

The 284 votes in Congress may have closed one chapter, but the people’s verdict is written every day in markets, jeepneys, and dinner tables.

Dissenting voices

Interestingly, several allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte — including Representatives Paolo Duterte, Omar Duterte, Isidro Ungab, and Harold James Duterte — chose not to participate in the process. 

In a letter, they stated: “We cannot in good conscience lend our names, our voices, and our mandate to a process that no longer reflects a genuine and honest pursuit of truth and accountability.”

Their refusal raises eyebrows. While not a direct attack on Marcos, it signals dissatisfaction with how impeachment is being handled. It’s a reminder that even within political circles, there are cracks in the system of accountability.

One thing is clear: Marcos is politically secure, for now. But political security doesn’t automatically translate to public trust. The real test lies outside the halls of Congress — on the streets, in the markets, and across social media, where Filipinos continue to demand accountability in their own ways.

What do you think — do you agree with the dismissal, or was the decision far too swift?

(Image: PIA - Philippine Information Agency)