Pres. Duterte may face removal from office if he falls short in safeguarding the Benham Rise according to a solon.
BENHAM RISE – Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte may face impeachment if he fails to safeguard the Benham Rise according to Magdalo Representative Gary Alejano.
Based on a recent report in ABS-CBN News, Magdalo Rep. Alejano expressed that “culpable violation of the Constitution” is the probable impeachment case to be filed against the Chief Executive.
According to the Magdalo Representative, the people should protect their territories and the President should be held liable in case he himself violates it.
Moreover, based on the news report, Magdalo Rep. Alejano cited the reaction of the President on the issue about the Chinese vessels spotted crisscrossing the area.
“While [Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana] sees the incident as ‘very concerning,’ to Mr. Duterte, ito ay wala lang,” the Representative said.
[While Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana sees the incident as ‘very concerning,’ to Mr. Duterte, it is nothing.]
According to the report, Alejano further stressed that the President even aired out that the Chinese were permitted by him to cross the waters.
The Magdalo Representative then raised a quest: “Are we going to let China fool us again in Benham Rise in 2017 onward?”
Moreover, based on the report, Alejano expressed that the country’s dealings with China should be very clear. According to him, the country can manage to protect its territories in which the Benham Rise is included.
Based on a previous news report, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said in a media conference that the Philippines cannot claim ownership over the Benham Rise despite that the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf has approved in 2012 its 2009 submission.
Shuang further cited the international law in which UNCLOS is also included.
“According to international law… A coastal state’s rights over the continental shelf do not affect the legal status of the superjacent waters or of the air space above those waters, nor do they affect foreign ships’ navigation freedom in the coastal state’s EEZ and on the high seas,” he expressed.
Meanwhile, Pres. Duterte has already expressed his reaction on the matter. During a media briefing, the President expressed that he has ordered the military to tell China that the area belongs to the Philippines.
However, the Chief Executive added to do it “in friendship”.
Based on the report, Pres. Duterte expressed that the country has to be diplomatic with China as he cannot match its “might”.
Benham rise is philippines and world already agree.