Impeachment in the Philippines

Elpidio Quirino was accused in 1949 of using government funds to renovate Malacanang Palace in Manila, using government funds to purchase furniture for the Presidential Palace, and linking him to alleged diamond smuggling. A Congressional committee rejected his compliant for lack of factual and legal basis.

Diosdado Macapagal in 1964 was accused of illegally importing rice to build public support in an election, illegally dismissing officials, using the military to intimidate the political opposition, and ordering the deportation of an American businessman who was in the custody of Congress in violation of the separation of governmental powers. A Congressional committee dissed all the charges.

Ferdinand Marcos was accused by 56 lawmakers on 1985 of graft, economic plunder, unexplained wealth, granting monopolies too cronies, and other crimes. the following day the National Assembly committee dismisses the complaints after roughly five hour of discussions for continuing unsupported conclusions.

Corazon Aquino was accused by law makers in 1988 of graft and violating the Constitution. the charge were rejected the following month due to lack of evidence.

Joseph Estrada was accused of bribery, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution during the impeachment of 2000, to determine the accusations, the House of Representatives choose 11 members to act as prosecutors with the Senate as the impeachment court and the senators as judges

On November 13, 2000 Representative Manny Villar, then the speaker of the House of Representatives, sent the article of impeachment to the Senate of the Philippines for trial.

The impeachment trial started on December 7, 2000 and was aborted on January 16, 2001 after the House prosecutors walkedout from the impeachment proceedings, to protest against the perceived dictatorial tendency of the eleven senator-judges, who supported Joseph Estrada, this walkout led to EDSA Revolution of 2001 and the downfall of president Estrada.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was accused in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 impeachment complaints for different imputations, specially attempting lying, cheating and stealing during 2004 presidential election against opposition candidate Fernando Poe, Jr.. However all impeachment cases were failed due to absence of one third vote from the members of the Congress.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto was criticized by some for not aggressively investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption. The impeachment failed

COMELEC commissioner Luzviminda Tangcanco was accused of graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution. She allegedly showed bias for the multi-billion-peso voters registration and information system (VRIS) project, deciding to undertake it despite the lack of funds.

Chief Justice Hilario Davide, Jr. was accused of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of the public trust and other high crimes

COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos was accused of ZTE national broadband network (NBN) deal and Hello Garci controversy, he resign eventually

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was impeached on March 22, 2011 on charges of the office's underperformance and failure to act on several cases during then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration. The first impeachment complaint against Gutierrez was filed in 2009, but was dismissed later in that year in a House dominated by Arroyo's Lakas Kampi CMD party.

Impeached officials Official


Joseph Estrada, President November 13, 2000 Trial aborted
Merceditas Gutierrez, Ombudsman March 22, 2011 Resigned prior to trial
Renato Corona, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court