MANILA (Updated) -- Magdalo Partylist Representative Gary Alejano filed before the House of Representatives-Secretary General on Thursday, March 30, a supplemental complaint on top of the impeachment raps he filed against President Rodrigo Duterte last March 16.
The additional complaints were based on Duterte’s public statements and inactions regarding Benham Rise and West Philippine Sea, two issues critical to the country’s sovereign and territorial rights, and both involving Beijing.
"After careful study, we are filing this supplemental affidavit complaint to make the President answerable for the betraying public trust, culpably violating the Constitution and committing high crime and dereliction of duty when he utterly failed or refused to assert the country’s maritime rights and territorial claims over Benham Rise and West Philippine Sea,” the lawmaker said.
In the 13-page document, Alejano alleged that the President compromised the country’s territorial integrity when he said that he cannot do anything to stop China’s reported plan to build an environmental monitoring station at the Scarborough Shoal (Panatag).
In addition, he said that Duterte must be impeached over his “failure” to assert the Philippines’ rights over the Benham Rise, even after learning that China’s vessel had lingered in the area for an extended period of time and for undisclosed reasons.
“The public statement of respondent Duterte and his inaction and/or actuation relating to these issues clearly constitute separate, distinct and proper grounds for his impeachment as President of the Republic of the Philippines,” a portion of Alejano’s complaint read.
Alejano also accused the President of being afraid of China due to his "secret deals" with the said nation.
“Verily, respondent Duterte has permitted China to trample upon our country’s rights and interest, and those of our people, apparently because he is afraid to offend his Chinese friends and/or because he has already made secret deals with them, to the grave and utter prejudice of our nation,” said Alejano.
Two weeks ago, the Magdalo lawmaker moved to file the first impeachment complaint against Duterte over issues on the Davao Death Squad, extrajudicial killings, and unexplained wealth.
He accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
Malacañang, for its part, dismissed as "unfounded" the supplemental impeachment complaint filed against the President.
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the filing of case against Duterte is a "political tactic" since the Magdalo Party-list lawmaker has desire to become senator.
Abella said Alejano, an ally of Duterte's vocal critic Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, filed an impeachment case, which is "lacking in both form and substance."
He said it seems obvious that both Alejano and Trillanes are in cahoots so the Magdalo lawmaker would secure a Senate seat.
"The supplemental impeachment complaint-affidavit filed by Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano against the President is unfounded, lacking both in form and substance; but more seriously it seems that this is part and parcel of his intention to run for the Senate to replace Senator Trillanes," Abella said.
"The political tactic of filing an 'incomplete' impeachment complaint on the first day of recess of the House of Representatives then to 'supplement' it on a different day seems geared towards providing media mileage for the proponent," he added.
Abella meanwhile assured the public that the Chief Executive works hard to protect the country's interest.
"The President is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy and under his leadership, we strive to safeguard the national interest, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Abella said.
"On the issue of Benham Rise, Scarborough Shoal, and the disputed features in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines will continuously uphold and assert our rights," he added.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said earlier in the day that the latest impeachment case against Duterte is "nonsense" because Alejano could only file a complaint once in a year. (SunStar Philippines)