Duterte unfazed by quo warranto plea vs him

Duterte was referring to lawyer and former nuisance presidential candidate Elly Pamatong who filed the quo warranto plea against him on June 6. (Photo: Presidential Communications (Government of the Philippines)/Facebook)

If the High Court rules in favor of the quo warranto petition filed against him by a lawyer, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would be even ‘happy’ to leave his post.

“May problema ako kasi ang balita ko sa Supreme Court (SC) ready na daw ‘yung decision sa quo warranto at I’m also due for ouster kagaya ni [former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno]… ‘yung finile ni Pamatong (I have a problem because I heard the Supreme Court is ready with its decision on the quo warranto and I’m also due for ouster like Sereno… the one that Pamatong filed),” Duterte said in a speech during the 117th anniversary celebration of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on Tuesday in Pasay City.

“Ah ‘di bale uuwi na lang ako sa amin (Anyway, I would just go home). I would be happy to step down,” he added.

Duterte was referring to the lawyer and former nuisance presidential candidate Elly Pamatong who filed the quo warranto plea against him on June 6. The SC gave the President 10 days to comment on the pleading.

“Kung warranto, delikado rin ako kay Pamatong. Patong-patong ‘yang problema natin pero sige lang (If it is a quo warranto, then I’m also in danger with Pamatong. My problems will pile up but it is fine),” Duterte said.

“Kung hanggang diyan lang ako (If this is how far I go), I live my destiny. Kung pabalikin mo ako (If you want me to return), I really do not know. I would not want to betray also those who have kept faith in me. Pero gusto kong sabihin na kung ‘yan lang takot-takotin ako ng oust, kaligaya ko na lang (But I just want to say to those who are threatening to oust me, I would be happy),” he continued.

Under Rule 66 of the Rules of Court, the quo warranto petition may be filed by an individual against “a person who usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds or exercises a public office, position or franchise.”

This petition lodged by Pamatong against Duterte was the same plea used by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno.

Sereno was removed from office after the SC en banc on June 19 dismissed her plea to reverse the High Court’s ruling which nullified her appointment as the Philippines’ top magistrate.