Philippines: Impeachment Motion Filed Against Duterte
By UCA News
An impeachment motion has been filed against Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged crimes he committed while in office in the past nine months, including the killing of up to 8,000 suspected drug offenders.
Congressman Gary Alejano, a former Marine captain who joined two failed coup attempts in 2003 and 2007, filed the motion on March 16.
“We are of the firm belief that President Duterte is unfit to hold the highest office of the land and that impeachment is the legal and constitutional remedy to this situation,” said Alejano.
The 16-page complaint submitted in the Lower House cited culpable violations of the 1987 Constitution, betrayal of public trust, and graft and corruption, as grounds for impeachment.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, an ally of the president, shrugged off the move.
“We are all entitled to our own stupidity,” said the House leader. “All charges are fabricated. They seem to believe their own lies,” he added.
In a statement, the presidential palace said the impeachment complaint is part of a “larger scheme” to discredit Duterte’s administration.
CIA