Former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Cardema and his wife, former Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Marie Cardema, filed an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the House of Representatives just days before the May 12 midterm elections.
The couple, known supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte, accused Marcos of committing treason for allegedly allowing the “transfer” of Duterte, a Filipino citizen, to foreign jurisdiction referring to the ongoing investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a Facebook post, Ronald Cardema said the impeachment complaint was officially endorsed by the Duterte Youth Party-list.
However, the complaint has yet to be officially received by the Office of the Secretary General of the House, with staff stating it must be accepted by Secretary General Reginald Velasco, who was not in his office when the Cardemas arrived.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre questioned the timing and viability of the complaint, noting that Congress is on break and will resume session only on June 2.
He said the limited time before adjournment raises doubts about whether the House can meaningfully process the complaint, and cautioned against politicizing the impeachment process, particularly during the campaign period.
Acidre also pointed out that President Marcos is not on the ballot and suggested that political motives may be behind the move.
He stressed that impeachment should not be used as a political weapon, especially when the country is focused on upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the Duterte Youth Party-list, a staunch Duterte-aligned group that had posted a copy of the alleged complaint online, confirmed that the impeachment complaint has not been officially filed.
As of 5 p.m., the House Secretary General’s office had not accepted the submission, citing that only the Secretary General himself can formally receive it. Maricel V. Cruz
