Former Interior and Local Government Secretary Rafael Alunan III stated that Senator Leila de Lima is wrong in insisting on the impeachment of President Rodrigo Duterte since he has done no constitutional violation that would make it possible.
Alunan quoted Duterte in Davao as saying: "during legitimate encounters I also killed". Alunan said this is to show policemen that they could kill should there be encounters and the need for it arises.
Alunan named the impeavchable offenses under the Constitution one by one. "The Constitution limits the offenses to the following: culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust.." he wrote. Defining each offense by their constitutional definition, he insists that Duterte did not commit any.
Under the Revised Penal Code, treason is defined as “Any Filipino citizen who levies war against the Philippines or adheres to her enemies, giving them aid or comfort within the Philippines or elsewhere.” Bribery on the other hand can be defined in two ways: Direct bribery is “committed by any public officer who shall agree to perform an act constituting a crime, in connection with the performance of this official duties, in consideration of any offer, promise, gift or present received by such officer, personally or through the mediation of another.”
Indirect bribery is “committed by a public officer when he accept gifts offered to him by reason of his office.” As for Graft and Corruption, Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act is an impeachable offense. Betrayal of public trust however, has no specific definition. The Supreme Court refuses to name which agency can define it, but only the power to the House of Representatives. Alunan insists that Duterte has done no impeachable offense. "Deliema Dilemma is wrong again. And she's supposed to be a lawyer?" he wrote.
source: filipinewsph
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