President Rodrigo Duterte points to the bulletproof glass panel placed in front of his rostrum during his speech in General Santos City on Thursday, June 13, 2019. Screengrab from RTVM
MANILA, Philippines鈥擯resident Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 threat to send to jail those who will file an impeachment complaint against him for allegedly violating the Constitution was a sign of guilt, a militant lawmaker said on Friday (June 28).
Critics of Duterte鈥檚 embrace of China warned that the President鈥檚 pronouncement that he would allow Chinese fishing vessels inside the Philippines鈥� exclusive economic zone was impeachable.
鈥淗e may have said those words because he鈥檚 guilty,鈥� said ACT Teacher Rep. Antonio Tinio in an interview with ANC.
鈥淚t means he probably knows he makes certain statements of admissions that are clearly unconstitutional,鈥� Tinio said.
The Makabayan bloc member said Duterte鈥檚 reaction was a repeat of his earlier remarks on accusations he committed 鈥渃rimes against humanity鈥� in waging a brutal campaign against illegal drugs.
Police have estimated up to 7,000 deaths of drug suspects but human rights groups claim the figure could be as high as 20,000.
鈥淪o what he is doing now is he is preempting an impeachment, by making these threats that anyone who files an impeachment complaint will be jailed,鈥� Tinio said.
Tinio added that even this threat is unconstitutional and 鈥渉ighly undemocratic,鈥� since any citizen has the right to file an impeachment complaint against the President.
He said any sitting President should respect this right.
Tinio added there was enough basis to impeach Duterte, following his admission that he entered into a deal in 2016 to let Chinese vessels fish inside the Philippines鈥� exclusive economic zone.
Tinio, however, admitted that an impeachment case against Duterte is 鈥渉ighly unlikely鈥� to prosper in the House because the President had a 鈥渟upermajority鈥� supporting him. (Editor: Tony Bergonia)