By Zaldy De Layola
MANILA – House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo said Tuesday the latest Pulse Asia and OCTA survey results showing Vice President Sara Duterte’s lead in the 2028 presidential narrowing is no coincidence amid the rising public awareness of her impeachment and her deafening silence on the allegations.
“Yes, pwedeng bumaba ang rating ng vice president dahil walang sagot sa impeachment. Tandaan niyo, maraming Pilipino ang nanonood sa TV, sa YouTube, nakikinig sa radio ng live ng mga committee hearings. Sa telepono lang, hawak-hawak mo, pwede ka na manood (it is possible for the rating of the vice president to fall because she does not answer the impeachment complaints. Remember, a lot of Filipinos watch TV, YouTube and listen to the live committee hearings. You can even watch through the cellphone you are holding),” Defensor said in a radio interview.
Defensor, a member of the committee on justice, also stressed that as more evidence emerges supporting allegations of public fund misuse, bribery, corruption and grave threats, it won’t come as a surprise when support within Congress for her impeachment would continue to grow by the time the plenary is ready to vote.
“All the more na may lumalabas na ebidensyang hindi [sinasagot] ng Vice President… kahit papaano, ang mga congressmen at ang mga Pilipino, mas nakakaintindi kung ano ‘yung ebidensya, kaya siguro bumaba ang kanyang rating (when there’s evidence coming out that is not answered by the Vice President, somehow, the congressmen and Filipinos, they appreciate these evidence, maybe that’s the reason her rating fell),” he said.
Pulse Asia’s latest survey, conducted from February 27 to March 2, showed Duterte’s edge shrinking to 51 percent against Naga City Mayor and former vice president Leni Robredo’s 43 percent in a hypothetical head-to-head race.
A similar trend appeared in OCTA’s March 19-25 survey, where Duterte posted 46 percent support against Robredo’s 35 percent.
Against Sen. Raffy Tulfo, however, Pulse Asia showed a statistical tie at 46 percent each, with Tulfo strongest in Balance Luzon and Duterte in the Visayas and Mindanao.
In earlier national surveys on 2028 presidential preferences, Duterte consistently emerged as the clear frontrunner against Robredo, Tulfo and other potential contenders.
The narrowing gap in the latest surveys suggests a shift, Defensor said, indicating that more Filipinos are becoming aware of the sociopolitical issues surrounding public officials, particularly the Vice President, who is facing serious corruption allegations in the impeachment proceedings.
He added that as more evidence comes to light without a direct response from Duterte, public opinion appears to be gradually changing.
“It is a welcome development na ang awareness ng tao sa mga issues, especially on corruption and on the impeachment is better. Mas magandang mas transparent ang nakikita ng taong ebidensya para maging batayan din nila ‘yun for 2028 (that the people’s awareness on issues, especially on corruption and on the impeachment is better. It is better for the people to see transparent evidence as their basis for the 2028 elections),” Defensor added.
Duterte announced her 2028 presidential bid as early as February 18, more than a year before the filing of certificates of candidacy.
Robredo and Tulfo, meanwhile, have both said they are not running for president and prefer reelection.
Despite this, their survey numbers and their support bases have continued to grow amid the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the Duterte.
Defensor, however, said that if Duterte is not impeached and convicted, she would be harder to beat in a multi-candidate race.
Instead, her chances of losing would be higher in a one-on-one contest rather than a three-cornered fight, he added.
“Mas magandang magsama ang mga hindi-Duterte para mas matatag ang kanilang boto. Mas matatag ang kalaban ni Vice President Sara kung one-on-one pa rin kesa sa mag-three-way fight. Sa 2028, dapat ang boto ng one-on-one, dapat simot mo ang mga support mo. Hindi pwedeng makihati pa na iba (It is better for non-Dutertes to join forces to have a stronger vote. Duterte’s opponent would be stronger in a one-on-one fight instead of a three-way fight. In 2028, the votes in a one-on-one contest should be completely taken by you. Nobody should take a piece of it),” he said.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Duterte’s impeachment on May 11, after giving its 318 members time to review the articles of impeachment unanimously approved by the committee on justice.
With 55 votes already secured, only 51 more are needed to meet the one-third threshold and send the impeachment case to a Senate trial.
Lawmakers such as Defensor, however, expect more members to vote in favor, citing the committee’s findings, the evidence presented during the hearings, and Duterte’s consistent refusal to respond to the allegations. (PNA)
