Philippine lawmakers halt impeachment bid that accused Duterte of sponsoring killings, ‘defeatist’ approach to China
The decision to stop the complaint, which also accused Duterte of corruption and unexplained wealth, was expected.
A Congressional panel of Philippine lawmakers on Monday found an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte lacked substance and should go no further, a widely expected outcome underlining the maverick leader’s steadfast legislative support.
Alejano accused Duterte of high crimes and betrayal of public trust by concealing assets, supporting summary executions of thousands of Filipinos in his war on drugs, and having a “defeatist” approach towards Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.
The panel’s decision to declare the complaint insufficient in substance came a few hours into proceedings that focused heavily on Alejano’s admission that he had not personally witnessed the drugs-related killings that he was accusing Duterte of sponsoring.
