MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 鈥渢reasonous鈥� statement that the Chinese could fish in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) because the two countries are 鈥渇riends鈥� could be grounds for impeachment, Sen. Leila de Lima said Thursday.
De Lima however said she is unsure if the impeachment complaint would prosper in the upcoming 18th Congress.
搁贰础顿:听
In a dispatch from Camp Crame where she is being detained, the opposition senator said Duterte鈥檚 remark on allowing China to fish within the country鈥檚 EEZ 鈥減alpably shows a pattern of an open and brazen disregard of the rule of law and betrayal of the national interest.鈥�
She cited Article 12, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution which reserves the EEZ 鈥渆xclusively鈥� for the 鈥渦se and enjoyment鈥� of Filipino citizens.
鈥淲e have here clear grounds for impeachment: culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, and betrayal of public trust. But is it mere wishful thinking to expect the Duterte-controlled 18th Congress to act seriously, and favorably, on any impeachment complaint versus this treasonous President? Who knows! Hope springs eternal,鈥� De Lima said.
The senator also wondered if the Chief Executive 鈥渆ven care to read and understand the Constitution鈥� or if he 鈥渆ver read the July 12, 2016 Ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and even the UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) itself.鈥�
鈥淗is behavior and statements relative to the WPS issue, deemed as policy statements, are simply repugnant to the above core documents,鈥� she said.
The President, when asked if the Philippine government would prevent Chinese fishers from venturing into Philippine territorial waters, earlier said: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think China would do that [stop fishing in Philippine territory]. Why? Because we鈥檙e friends.鈥�
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said it could not be considered treason because it was 鈥渁llowed under international laws.鈥�
READ:
听
Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio had debunked this pointing out that the 1987 Constitution states that: 鈥淭he State shall protect the nation鈥檚 marine wealth in its鈥� exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.鈥�
鈥淭he Philippines has exclusive sovereign right to exploit all the fish, oil, gas and other mineral resources in its Exclusive Economic Zone. This sovereign right belongs to the Filipino people, and no government official can waive this sovereign right of the Filipino people without their consent,鈥� Carprio asserted. 听(Editor: Mike U. Frialde)
听
搁贰础顿:听