MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte cannot be impeached for allegations or offenses before he assumed the country's top post.

This is the belief of ANGKLA Party-list Rep. Jesulito Manalo after SPO3 Arthur Lascanas alleged that Duterte is behind the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).

"You cannot impeach someone for an offense that is not related to his office. You cannot. For an impeachment, no. Because that has something to do with the function of his office to which he is being charged," he said.

Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano, on the other hand, believes it would be debatable.

"Debatable 'yan (if he can be impeached for acts prior to presidency) lalo na siguro kay Cong. Manalo. He's a lawyer," Paduano said.

He also said the allegations about the links of Duterte to the DDS are not new.

"Last year...[Edgar] Matobato claimed that he is part of the DDS and now, another SPO3 testified in the Senate that indeed DDS is being used allegedly by the president as mayor in Davao City. It's all in an allegation," he said.

For Paduano, the allegations should be brought to the proper forum.

"They should prove it in court. Tingnan mo nangyari kay Matobato, ngayon si Matobato nagkaprublema, siya pa may kaso. If this SPO3 claiming to be involved in the DDS and being used by the president, they should prove it in court. 'Di naman pwede sabihin si ganito, involved sa ganitong kaso," he said.

Since the President cannot be haled into court while he is in office, an impeachment is the only way to hold him accountable. Paduano said Congress will have to examine the allegation if or when a case is filed.

"If they want to file it in Congress to impeach the president, tingnan natin kung talagang may laman, kung totoo pinagsasabi niya. Lahat naman yan bukas eh, if someone will file it in Congress tingnan natin," he said.

For Justice Committee Chair Rey Umali, the matter of Duterte's links to the DDS is not new.

"Hindi ko narinig kung ano sinabi niya pero tapos na sa Senado 'yan, bakit ngayon lang nagsasalita. To my recollection, inimbitahan siya... nagpunta siya 'di naman siya nagsalita. I do not know, para sa akin 'yang issue na 'yan ay tinapos na ng Senado," he said.