Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday dared retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who it said was only after attention, to file a lawsuit against President Rodrigo Duterte if he thinks the chief executive violated anything under the Constitution.
While Carpio thinks Duterte’s recent statements on the West Philippine Sea as an impeachable offense, the former magistrate said he does not see an impeachment prospering because it is a “numbers game.”
“Alam niyo po ang taong bago sa pulitika, sasabihin ang lahat para mapansin. And this is yet another instance of Justice Carpio saying things just for the attention,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing when sought to comment on Carpio’s remarks.
(You know what, a person who is new to politics will say everything to seek attention. And this is yet another instance of Justice Carpio saying things just for the attention.)
“Pwede po kayo magdemanda sa hukuman kung saan kayo umupo nang napakatagal na panahon. Kung sa tingin niyo meron talagang nilalabag na probisyon ng Saligang Batas ang Presidente, yan po ang hamon ko. File the suit pursuant to your standing as citizen,” he added.
(You may complain before the court where you had a position for a long time. If you think the President violated a provision under the Constitution, that’s my challenge. File the suit pursuant to your standing as a citizen.)
Carpio is the legal counsel of former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario in their complaint before the International Criminal Court (ICC) against China.
Morales and Del Rosario filed in March 2019 a case against China and its President Xi Jinping for the alleged “crimes against humanity” committed against Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.
The ICC dismissed the complaint in December 2019, saying that it has no territorial or personal jurisdiction over the case.
Roque also debunked claims that Duterte gave away the Philippines’ territories to China.
“Bakit betrayal of public trust? Meron bang nawalang teritoryo sa administrasyon ni Presidente Duterte? Wala. Meron ba siyang binigay na teritoryo sa Tsina? Wala,” Roque said.
(Why betrayal of trust? Is there any territory lost under President Duterte’s administration? None. Did he give any territory to China? None.)
Roque also insisted that Duterte’s foreign policy to pursue trade and investments with China pending the resolution of the sea row was not an impeachable offense.
“Ang totoo nyan [The truth is], it’s not just because it’s a numbers game. It is because it’s utterly bereft of merit. Because the President is the sole architect, primary architect of foreign policy,” he said.