MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte warned to jail those who will file impeachment complaint against him for his statement allowing Chinese fishermen to trawl in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Duterte on Thursday said he was protecting a far greater cause than what the provision in the Philippine 1987 Constitution covers.
“I-impeach ako? Kulungin ko silang lahat. Subukan ninyo,” Duterte said. “You want me not only to violate the Constitution. How can I protect the resources when there’s nobody to eat it?”
“That is a provision for the thoughtless and the senseless. Protection about the economic rights, about the economic zone? resources? I am protecting the country and 110 (million) Filipinos,” he added.
Duterte was pertaining to Section 2 of Article XII on National Economy and Patrimony which states that, “The State shall protect the nation’s marine wealth in its archipelagic waters, territorial sea, and exclusive economic zone, and reserve its use and enjoyment exclusively to Filipino citizens.”
That was also the provision pointed out by former Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Albert Del Rosario, Senior Associate justice Antonio Carpio and Vice President Leni Robredo that Duterte violated.
“That piece of paper, the Constitution, would become meaningless with no spirit except desperation, agony and suffering. Kasi pagpunta mo roon how do you drive them away?” Duterte said.
The President was asked if the Philippines should bar China from fishing in the Philippines’ EEZ. He replied that Manila and Beijing are “friends” and that there should not be any “bloody conclusion.”
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government would “tolerate” Chinese fishermen in the EEZ, where Manila has exclusive rights to resources, based on a 2016 ruling of a United Nations-backed court./PN
This man is very dangerous this man must be control. it will make Philippines like Venezuela . . . We need a free and open Philippines not a single person who always threaten our freedom and suppress our right.