‘Stop VP impeachment bid’:

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told proponents Thursday to stop trying to impeach the vice-president because she hasn’t committed any “overt acts” that could be grounds for her ouster.

Vice-President Leni Robredo has criticized Duterte’s bloody anti-drug crackdown and other policies, but the president said she has the right to free speech and that removing her from office would damage the country.

Philippine presidents and vice-presidents are elected separately and often come from rival political parties, like Duterte and Robredo, a former human rights lawyer.

“Guys, lay off. Let’s stop it. You can do other things but do not tinker with the structure of government. I will not countenance it,” Duterte said when asked at a news conference about an impeachment complaint filed this week against Robredo in the House of Representatives.

“She was elected so why do you have to ... just because she keeps on harping on me? Let her, this is a democracy, freedom of speech ... there are no overt acts committed,” said the president, a former government prosecutor. “Why will you destroy the country?”

Duterte also was the subject of an impeachment complaint filed last week over his anti-drug crackdown, which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead, and alleged corruption, although the bid faces an uphill battle with Duterte’s allies holding an overwhelming majority in Congress. (AP)