Bayan to Duterte: Answer possible impeach raps, not threaten complainants

Bayan Sec. Gen. Renato Reyes. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines – The proper reaction from President Rodrigo Duterte on the possible filing of impeachment complaints should be to refute claims and not threaten complainants with imprisonment, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said on Friday.

According to Bayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes, Duterte’s recent pronouncements reeked of dictatorial politics.

“Ang tamang tugon sa anumang impeachment complaint ay ang pagsagot sa mga alegasyon, alinsunod sa mga itinakdang proseso,” Reyes said in a message to reporters.

“Hindi sinasagot ang impeachment sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakulong ng mga complainants o pananakot sa kanila,” he added.

In a speech on Thursday night, Duterte dared critics to file impeachment complaints against him for allegedly failing to protect the country’s territory.

“I-impeach ako? Kulungin ko silang lahat. Subukan niyo. Try to take it, do it, and I will do it,” Duterte told reporters in Malacañang.

READ: Duterte on impeachment proponents: I’ll jail them all

Duterte’s remarks came after several lawmakers and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario claimed that Duterte committed an impeachable offense after he said that China can continue on fishing within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

READ: Del Rosario says Duterte can be impeached for not defending territory

READ: Out of friendship, PH will ‘tolerate’ China to fish in country’s EEZ – Palace

Reyes said that it appears that Duterte has resorted to intimidating his critics, supposedly a deliberate attempt to cover issues hounding his administration.

“Tila paninindak lang sa mga kritiko ang kayang gawin ng Pangulo ngayon. At pilit niyang pinapalabo ang mga usapin. Paulit-ulit na sinasabi na ang anumang pagreklamo natin sa China ay mauuwi lang sa gera,” he said.

“Anumang paggi-giit ng naipanalo natin sa international court ay mauuwi sa gera. Ang pagtataguyod ng probisyon sa konstitusyon kaugnay ng EEZ ay mauuwi lang sa gera,” he explained.

He also reiterated that militant groups are not looking for Duterte to declare war against China, contrary to the President’s argument that he does not take an aggressive stance out of fear of being defeated.

“Hindi gera ang hangad natin at hindi totoong gera lang ang tanging scenario o pagpipilian. Bilang pangulo, sumumpa sya na itaguyod ang Saligang Batas. Hindi maaaring selective lang ang pagtataguyod nito,” Reyes noted.

“Sa protesta at diplomatikong aksyon, at sa pagkuha ng suporta ng iba pang bansa, patuloy nating ipahayag na atin ang EEZ ng Pilipinas at hindi ito maaaring angkinin ng ibang bansa tulad ng China,” he added. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)