Those people saying President Rodrigo Duterte may be impeached for his statement favoring the police officers involved in the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa do not know the law, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said Thursday.
“They do not know the law. What is impeachable? What trust did the President betray?” Aguirre asked.
Senator Leila De Lima earlier said Duterte may be impeached when he said he would not allow the implicated police officers to go to jail.
De Lima said it is considered betrayal of public trust.
The Justice Chief defended Duterte, saying the President just expressed his opinion on the matter.
“Know how to read between the lines. It only means he would help these policemen so they would not go to jail,” he said explaining that help could mean providing them with lawyers since there is the presumption of regularity in the performance of duty.
“But if evidence will show after trial, and courts hold them guilty, then that would be the time the President will use presidential power. It will take a long time. First we have to hold the trial,” Aguirre said.