Palace confident no impeach bid vs Duterte would prosper

MANILA-- Malacañang is confident that no impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte will prosper as he did not commit any culpable violation of the Constitution.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was reacting to the accusation of Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas that the chief executive compromised the rights of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.

“There can be no culpable violation of the Constitution, or any impeachable offense for that matter, when the President is precisely enforcing that very same instrument while honoring our country’s constitutional obligation of observing amity with our neighboring states in conformity with our treaties and international conventions, as well as customary international law,” Panelo said in a statement Friday.

“The Palace is therefore confident that no impeachment complaint against PRRD would prosper,” he added.

While the Office of the President will not dissuade individuals and groups, including left-leaning ones, in initiating an impeachment case against a sitting president, Panelo said: “As a friendly advice, we suggest that these people first conduct a reality check to

avoid embarrassment.”

He highlighted that an impeachment case against Duterte is not only misplaced but is also “absolutely baseless in fact and in law.”

“The President is fealty to his sworn oath under the Constitution of serving and protecting the Filipino people, who in turn have given the highest satisfaction, approval, performance and trust ratings in political polling history,” he said, adding the results of the mid-term elections validates this after all the senatorial candidates of the opposition have been repudiated.

“The stunning result shows the support of the electorate on the policies of the President concerning our international relations,” he said.