MANILA, Philippines - The chief of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) on Wednesday dismissed claims that President Benigno Aquino III could be impeached for smoking.
CSC chairman Francisco Duque said that smoking is not a crime and is therefore not a ground for impeachment, refuting CSC Assistant Commissioner Ariel Ronquillo's conjecture.
"Bakit mo i-uugnay 'yung smoking sa impeachable offenses under the Constitution when smoking per sé is not a crime?" Duque said in a radio interview over dzMM.
Ronquillo was stating a personal opinion and is not an official position of the agency, Duque said.
On Monday, the assistant commissioner said that Aquino is violating provisions of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the Memorandum 17-2009, which prohibits smoking in government premises.
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"Hindi ko sinusuportahan 'yun dahil unang-una ang smoking ay hindi naman krimen," Duque added.
He explained that the civil service circular cited only covers "absolute" smoking prohibition in the Department of Health, Department of Education and Department of Social Welfare and Employment as social service agencies.
The president, meanwhile, can freely smoke as he pleases in designated smoking areas and open spaces in government properties, said.
The CSC chief said he is confident that Aquino only smokes in such areas and not in his room in Bahay Pangarap contrary to Ronquillo's "speculations."
"Let's leave it to the President," he added.
Aquino has repeatedly rejected calls to quit smoking, saying that he is not violating any laws in doing so.
He had also called smoking among his last remaining freedoms.