Duterte’s pro-China stance is impeachable

Isn’t it highly disturbing that while some foreign powers led by the United States have shown their deep concern over China’s unrelenting aggression in the West Philippine Sea, President Duterte remains adamant and refuses to defend our sovereignty, blatantly ignoring the Arbitral Tribunal’s award as a mere “scrap of paper” and insisting that he is not likely to send his (?) soldiers in a possible war with his best friend Xi Jinping’s battle-ready militias?

Even as his fear of war did not jibe with the admirable courage shown by the leaders of neighboring countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, etc., Mr. Duterte, obviously beholden and indebted to Xi, has refused to lead his countrymen in resisting China’s blatant intrusions into our territories. And all these, despite our having the landmark decision rejecting China’s nine-dash line as legal basis for asserting our maritime rights, let alone the US commitment to honor the mutual defense treaty in case of war.

If the West Philippine Sea as part of our sovereign rights is of paramount national interest and importance, Mr. Duterte’s pro-

China stand could be considered at the very least a betrayal of public interest. Under our Constitution, that is an impeachable offense.

What makes things more disturbing is the indifference and continued inaction on the part of a strangely silent, if not docile, Congress in starting impeachment proceedings against any erring impeachable official.

MANUEL A. COLLAO
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