President Duterte is unlikely to get impeached from office over his policies on the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang asserted Monday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque has rejected allegations made by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio that the President supposedly committed a betrayal of public trust and national interest over his stance on the maritime conflict, saying the former magistrate was merely trying to seek attention.
Carpio earlier claimed that Duterte's actions on the West Philippine Sea could be considered an impeachable offense.
"Alam ninyo ang taong bago sa pulitika sasabihin ang lahat para mapansin (You know a political newbie will say everything to get attention) and this is yet another instance of Justice Carpio saying things just for the attention," Roque said during a televised press briefing Monday, May 10.
"Bakit betrayal of public trust? Mayroon nawala bang teritoryo sa administrasyon ni Pangulo Duterte? Wala. May binigay ba siyang teritoryo sa Tsina? Wala (Why betrayal of public trust? Was there a territory lost under the administration of President Duterte? None. Did he give a territory to China? None)," he said.
Roque also insisted that the President's policy of pursuing other areas of cooperation with China such as trade and investments pending the resolution of the territorial conflict was neither an impeachable offense.
"Ang totoo niyan (The truth is) it is not just because it is a numbers game, It is because it is utterly bereft of merit because the President is the sole architect, primary architect of foreign policy," he added.
If Carpio believed the President violated the law on his West Philippine Sea stance, Roque said former justice could bring the case before the Supreme Court. He said the impeachment of the President was "not only the remedy," adding ordinary citizens can file a complaint before the country's high court.
"File the suit pursuant to your standing as a citizen," he told Carpio.
Carpio, in a television interview Monday, said he "agreed completely" that the President's actions related to the West Philippine Sea could be seen as an impeachable offense. The former justice, critical of the President's alleged soft stance towards China in the territorial dispute, however, recognized that the impeachment complaint won't prosper since Congress is dominated by the President's allies.