PNP may arrest impeachment complainants, if...

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) will carry out President Duterte’s order to have people filing impeachment cases against him arrested if they are found to be in violation of the law.

PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde said it is up to the President if he wants to order the arrest of those who are threatening him with impeachment, but assured the public there would be proper investigations first.

Albayalde said the police force has not received any order from the President regarding the arrest of any of his detractors following his pronouncement to have people apprehended if they file an impeachment claim against him. 

“Although, sa atin wala pa naman sya sinasabi na ikulong namin yung mga magtatangkang mag impeach sa kanya. I think it’s up to the President yung statement nya,” he said in a press briefing.

The head of the 190,000-strong PNP said that they will arrest detractors following thorough investigations on their possible violations.

“Of course, kung talagang ipag utos ng (if so ordered by the) President at may nakita naman tayong (and we see) violation of the law, why not?” he added.

He gave assurance of no immediate arrest and there would be investigations on possible violations of laws even if Duterte ordered the apprehension. 

When asked what laws does impeachment violate, Albayalde said that it could be libel or sedition, or other violations. 

“As to the specifics hindi natin masabi kung ano (we can’t say),” Albayalde said.         

Meanwhile, Senators Imee Marcos and Christopher Go said there is no basis to impeach Duterte.

Marcos described talks of impeaching the President as “just a blast” as there is no impeachable offense committed.

“Let’s not talk about that because we don’t see any reason (to impeach him),” she told reporters yesterday.

Go said the filing of an impeachment complaint is a right of anyone qualified to do so if he or she sees a violation of the Constitution, but he stressed that Duterte’s actions and pronouncements, particularly in connection with the Recto Bank incident, were for the country’s interest.

“You know the President thought about this. He’s a lawyer and I know that what President Duterte does is for the interest of all as father of the nation,” Go told a gathering of the Jesus Miracle Crusade (JMC) at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday.

He said he does not expect any impeachment complaint against Duterte to succeed.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said he does not see any impeachable offense committed by Duterte when he said he would allow foreigners to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone.

He said Duterte may just have committed a “messaging” error in the media.

Unless Duterte issues a directive allowing Chinese and other foreign fishing vessels in the country’s exclusive economic zone, his pronouncements should be considered as just statements. – With Paolo Romero