Marcos drug claims not grounds for impeachment — constitutional expert

Here is a rewritten version of the blog post in a polished and professional tone

The Future of Marcos Drug Claims Not Grounds for Impeachment

As the controversy surrounding President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s drug allegations continues to unfold, constitutional law expert Domingo Cayosa and civic leader Jose Antonio Goitia have called for clarity and sobriety. In their separate statements, both experts emphasized that the claims lack legal weight and risk distracting the country from pressing governance issues.

According to Cayosa, under settled jurisprudence, impeachment applies only to actions committed while an official is serving in an impeachable position. He stressed that if a president had used drugs or committed wrongdoing before taking office, it would not be grounds for removal.

It's logical because impeachment is designed to hold incumbents accountable for decisions and actions made while in office, Cayosa explained.

Regarding the documented 2021 drug test that showed President Marcos Jr. tested negative, Cayosa suggested that the Palace may choose to either dismiss the claims outright or release updated results to put the matter to rest.

What matters, he said, is that any response should be direct, credible, and specific.

It would be better if we had an updated [test] like this... so that we can put an end to it once and for all, Cayosa said.

Cayosa warned that sustained political noise over the drug allegations risks diverting public attention from more pressing national concerns, such as corruption. Repeated accusations contribute to a climate where wrongdoing thrives.

Goitia, chairman emeritus of several civic organizations, offered a sharper critique of Senator Marcos' public accusations. He described her remarks as emotional outbursts dressed as national warnings that fall short of responsible public discourse.

When someone makes accusations this serious without a shred of proof, it is not bravery. It is recklessness, Goitia said. The Filipino people deserve truth, not emotional outbursts pretending to be national warnings.

During the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally, Senator Marcos accused her brother of long-term drug use and questioned his fitness to lead, while also suggesting that First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was complicit in supposedly concealing the President's alleged behavior. She did not present documents, medical records, sworn statements, or independent verification to support her claims.

Goitia called the allegations one of the gravest and most destabilizing acts an official can undertake. He stressed that the burden of evidence lies with the accuser. He pointed to the President's 2021 drug test at St. Luke's Medical Center – later confirmed before the Senate – as a documented result contradicting Senator Marcos' statements.

This is a documented test, not rumor, he said.

Goitia criticized efforts to involve the First Lady, calling them cheap shots rooted in desperation.

Dragging the First Lady into this without basis is a cheap shot. It is gossip dressed up as concern, Goitia said.

He added that the President's public engagements and policy decisions contradict any suggestion of impairment.

Leadership is measured by action, he said. Rumor cannot erase results.

Goitia urged the public to demand evidence from any official making accusations of such magnitude.

If officials want to be taken seriously, they must speak with evidence. Not emotion. Not theatrics.

He emphasized that national attention should remain on economic recovery, security, and stability rather than political noise that evaporates under scrutiny.

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

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