MANILA, Philippines — Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa believes that the mere filing of an impeachment complaint against President Rodrigo Duterte is not a crime.

In the same breath, however, Dela Rosa also believes that the President has basis when he threatened those who would initiate the case against him supposedly for failure to protect the country’s territory.

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“Kung may vina-violate sila na law, e di kailagang arestuhin,” he initially told reporters when asked Tuesday about the President’s threat.

Asked if the filing of an impeachment is a violation of law, the senator repeatedly said: “Krimen ba yan? Krimen ba?”

“Krimen ba ang pag file?” he further asked, “Yun kasi yung sinasabi ni Presidente, meron yang mga qualification. Hindi lang nya nasabi sa inyo, abugado yan e. Meron yang pinag huhugutan.”

“May basis yan, hindi yung arbitrary na lang na hulihin mo yung tao… hindi naman siguro ganun. Meron syang pinagbabasehan dyan kung merong vina-violate na batas,” the senator added.

Dela Rosa though argued that arrest could still be possible if a law has been violated during the filing of an impeachment complaint.

But when pressed whether the filing could be considered a crime, the senator said, “Hindi nga e. Hindi naman krimen yun di ba?”

“Pero kung sinabi ni Presidente na arestuhin kita, sigurado ako may violation of law ka, meron kang bina violate dyan pag pinapaaresto ka nya,” he added.

Dela Rosa refused to comment when asked if he would support a possible impeachment bid against the President, noting that he might serve as a senator-judge should it succeed and reach the Senate for trial.

Duterte may reportedly face an impeachment rap for allowing China to fish in the country’s exclusive economic zone. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)

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READ: Duterte on impeachment proponents: I’ll jail them all

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