Duterte could face impeachment for failing to secure PHL territory, says Del Rosario

Former Foreign Affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario  on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte could be impeached for his failure to secure the Philippine territory.

“The Constitution states that the President and the military must secure the national territory and it includes the EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” Del Rosario told ANC television on Thursday.

Del Rosario, who worked as Foreign Affairs secretary during the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, noted that Duterte’s "failure" to secure the national territory could be a ground for an impeachment.

“To be able to violate that is really a basis for impeachment of the President. He can be impeached,” he added.

In a speech on Wednesday, Duterte said the Philippines cannot assert sovereignty over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and prohibit Chinese fishermen from exploring the territory because, he said, no country in the world has that right.

Del Rosario said Duterte’s remark that the Philippines has no sovereignty on its EEZ will embolden Chinese fishermen.

“This will, no doubt, embolden the Chinese fishermen under the militia strategy that they are using because they are acting like bullies before, what more now?” Del Rosario said.

Las June 9, a Filipino fishing boat was rammed by a Chinese fishing vessel in Recto Bank in the Spratlys. The Foreign Affairs department has filed a diplomatic protest before the International Maritime Organization (IMO) over the incident.

However, Duterte called the incident a "little maritime accident."

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales also contradicted Duterte’s claims.

The Philippines has been given the sovereignty over the EEZ, and allowing China to fish on the territory will ‘dent the arbitral decision’ favoring the Philippines, Morales said in an interview on ANC also on Thursday.

Morales added that allowing Chinese fishermen to explore the EEZ should have the consent of the Filipino people.

Del Rosario clarified, “China’s claim that nearly all of South China Sea is theirs. We’re taking the view that the EEZ is ours and that has been upheld by international law. It is to be observed. And the fact of giving this away, it diminished the position we have been given in terms of arbitral tribunal outcome.”

Earlier, Del Rosario and Morales filed a complaint against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials before the International Criminal Court for allegedly committing crimes against humanity in connection with China's activities in South China Sea. —Joviland Rita/LBG/KG, GMA News