AN ATTEMPT to impeach President Rodrigo Duterte over his policy on the Philippines's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is "absolutely baseless in fact and in law," MalacaƱang said on Friday, July 5.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reiterated that the executive branch is confident that an impeachment complaint would not prosper at the House of Representatives.
He made the statement after fishermen's group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said it would file an impeachment complaint against Duterte when the 18th Congress opens on July 22.
On the same day, the Chief Executive is also expected to deliver his fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona).
"Any Filipino citizen can file an impeachment case against a sitting President. 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," Panelo said.
"An impeachment however not only is misplaced, it is absolutely baseless in fact and in law. 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," he added.
Pamalakaya's planned impeachment case will cite Duterte for allegedly committing "treason and violation of the 1987 Constitution" by ignoring China's activities within the Philippine waters.
Duterte has earned the critics' ire when he earlier said that he had a "verbal" agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to allow Chinese fishermen to venture into the Philippines's EEZ.
A Chinese trawler rammed a Filipino fishing boat anchored near Recto Bank within the Philippines' EEZ on June 9, causing the Filipino boat to sink.
Instead of rescuing the Filipino crew, the Chinese left the area. A Vietnamese boat later rescued the Filipinos, who were found clinging to pieces of wood.
The opposition said allowing China to fish within the Philippine waters is "unconstitutional."
Panelo, however, insisted that the President did not commit any impeachable offense.
"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," he said.
"The Palace is therefore confident that no impeachment complaint against [Duterte] would prosper. As a friendly advice, we suggest that these people first conduct a reality check to avoid embarrassment," Duterte's spokesman added.
Panelo likewise believed that majority of Filipinos continue to support the President's policies.
"The results of the midterm elections have validated this public endearment with all the senatorial candidates of the opposition being overwhelmingly repudiated. The stunning result shows the support of the electorate on the policies of the President concerning our international relations," he said. (SunStar Philippines)