Malacañang on Thursday night said the impeachment complaint filed by Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano against President Rodrigo Duterte was lacking in form and substance and that it was part of the congressman’s bid for the Senate in 2019.
“The supplemental impeachment complaint-affidavit filed by Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano against the President is unfounded, lacking both in form and substance,” Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
“But more seriously, it seems that this is part and parcel of his intention to run for the Senate to replace Senator Trillanes.
“The political tactic of filing an incomplete impeachment complaint on the first day of recess of the HoR (House of Representatives), then to ‘supplement’ it on a different day seems geared towards providing media mileage for the proponent,” said Abella.
He insisted that Duterte will defend Philippine interests in his dealings with other nations.
“The President is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy and under his leadership, we strive to safeguard the national interest, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Abella said. “©”©
“On the issue of Benham Rise, Scarborough Shoal and the disputed features in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines will continuously uphold and assert our rights,” Abella said.
Alejano on Thursday filed a supplemental complaint to his impeachment raps against Duterte after the President supposedly refused to defend the Philippines’ maritime rights against China’s claims.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte was not a hopeless case, even as his allies make up the majority in Congress, Alejano said on Friday.
Alejano said lawmakers dismayed over the leadership of Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez could be convinced to support the impeachment.
The complaint needs the signature of one third of the House of Representatives membership before it is transmitted to the Senate.
Congress is on recess and will “We understand it’s a numbers game and we’re working on it. It’s not a hopeless case,” Alejano told dzmm radio.