Palace welcomes, but belittles impeachment case vs Duterte

Malacañang assured that any Filipino citizen can file an impeachment case against a sitting President.

Earlier, fishermen’s group PAMALAKAYA announced its plan of filing an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte when Congress session resumes due to treason and culpable violation of the Constitution after his alleged failure to protect Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said, “the Office of the President can not and will not dissuade those individuals and groups, including left-leaning ones, to initiate such an action before the Congress, as the same is recognized by our Constitution.”

However, according to Panelo, the said impeachment is not only misplaced, but also absolutely baseless in fact and in law.

Panelo insisted that, “the President is fealty to his sworn oath under the Constitution of serving and protecting the Filipino people, who in turn have given the highest satisfaction, approval, performance and trust ratings in political polling history.”

Panelo further noted that the results of the midterm elections have validated this public endearment with all the senatorial candidates of the opposition being overwhelmingly repudiated and the stunning result shows the support of the electorate on the policies of the President concerning our international relations.

“There can be no culpable violation of the Constitution, or any impeachable offense for that matter, when the President is precisely enforcing that very same instrument while honoring our country’s constitutional obligation of observing amity with our neighboring states in conformity with our treaties and international conventions, as well as customary international law,” Panelo said.

The Palace, Panelo said is confident that no impeachment complaint against President Duterte would prosper and “we suggest that these people first conduct a reality check to avoid embarrassment.”