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Duterte risks impeachment over failure to protect West PH Sea, says ex-SolGen

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<figure class="op-interactive"><div id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1_Container"> <ivs-player id="IVS_ABS_Body_Video_1" data-ivs-spid="3001339" data-ivs-key="e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603" data-ivs-vid="1434476" data-ivs-floating="1"></ivs-player> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/iframe-parent.js"></script> <script src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/js/loader.js"></script> </div></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="~//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="~//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte may be impeached if he fails to protect the country&#x27;s territory in the West Philippine Sea, a former solicitor general said Tuesday.</p><p>Speaking to ANC, lawyer Florin Hilbay said Duterte took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution.</p><p>&quot;If the President commits culpable violation of the Constitution, if the President reneges on his promise to protect national territory, that is a clear betrayal of public trust,&quot; he said. </p><p>US network CNBC reported earlier that the Chinese army had installed anti-ship and air-to-air defenses on outposts also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines over the last 30 days.</p><p>Duterte has not called out China over the reported missile deployment but instead blamed the US and former President Benigno Aquino III for their supposed failure to stop China&#x27;s militarization in the area. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/18/duterte-hits-us-aquino-amid-chinese-militarization-in-s-china-sea">Duterte hits US, Aquino amid Chinese ‘militarization’ in S. China Sea</a></li></ul><p>Hilbay said the Duterte administration&#x27;s policy of &quot;total friendliness&quot; with China is not working as the Asian economic giant has reportedly succeeded in militarizing its artificial islands.</p><p>&quot;We are now realizing the fruition of a century-long plan of China which is to take effective control of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea,&quot; he said. </p><p>He said the Philippines need to formally protest China&#x27;s moves and implement a plan that does not change every time a new administration takes over the government. </p><p>&quot;We are clearly seeing the disappointing turn of events that is anchored on the President&#x27;s policy of basically giving everything to China,&quot; the lawyer said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/18/xi-broke-promise-not-to-militarize-spratly-islands-carpio">Xi broke promise not to militarize Spratly islands: Carpio</a></li></ul><p>Hilbay said it is not too late to implement a multilateral approach in dealing with China and invoking the arbitral ruling that says the West Philippine Sea is part of the Philippines&#x27; territory. </p>

<p>MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte may be impeached if he fails to protect the country's territory in the West Philippine Sea, a former solicitor general said Tuesday.<br /> </p>

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte may be impeached if he fails to protect the country's territory in the West Philippine Sea, a former solicitor general said Tuesday.