Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday laughed off the treason complaint lodged by Atty. Oliver Lozano against President Benigno Aquino III and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.  

 

“Please check what you are doing,” she advised Lozano in an interview on government-run dzRB radio.

 

On Friday, Lozano filed a five-page complaint for treason against Aquino and Trillanes for the back channel negotiations they undertook with China over a territorial row over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

 

Aquino had authorized Trillanes to undertake the backchannel negotiations, though Malacañang clarified it was Trillanes who broached the idea to Aquino and volunteered for the job.

 

Under Article 114 of the Revised Penal Code, one who "levies war against (the state) or adheres to (its) enemies, giving them aid or comfort within the Philippine Islands or elsewhere, shall be punished by reclusion temporal to death and shall pay a fine not to exceed P20,000."

  

However, Valte pointed out treason applies to war. “Under no circumstance can our present situation be construed as we are in war time,” she said.

 

She also reminded Lozano that Aquino as a sitting president is removable only by impeachment.

 

“(Lozano) should know a sitting president is removable only by impeachment. Impeachment is initiated in the House of Representatives, not in the Office of Ombudsman,” she said. — DVM, GMA News