By Jose Cielito Reganit
MANILA – The House Committee on Justice now carries even greater weight after a new survey showed that 88 percent of Filipinos want Vice President Sara Duterte to face a Senate impeachment trial.
In a statement Friday, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union said the Tangere survey lays bare a political reality that cannot be wished away, because when nearly nine out of 10 Filipinos want a formal trial, the demand is no longer coming from critics alone but from a broad public that wants answers in the proper forum.
“Kapag 88 percent na ng mga Pilipino ang nagsasabing humarap ka sa impeachment trial, hindi na iyan simpleng opinyon lang ng iilan. Hatol na iyan ng public conscience na sawa na sa palusot, sawa na sa pa-victim at sawa na sa style na laging may script pero walang sagot (When 88 percent of Filipinos say you have to face an impeachment trial, that is no longer a simple opinion of a few. That is a decision of public conscience that is fed up with alibis, playing victim, and always playing a script but no answers),” Ortega said.
The poll, conducted from April 22 to 23, indicated that respondents view a Senate trial not primarily as punishment but as a venue for the Vice President to defend herself and publicly address the accusations against her.
About 70 percent of those surveyed said Duterte should personally testify and respond to the allegations, while 51 percent want her to present evidence to clarify financial issues raised against her.
Ortega said the finding is especially telling because it undercuts the line that the impeachment proceedings are mere political persecution, and instead suggests that a large majority of Filipinos see the trial as a necessary democratic reckoning.
The survey, he said, also reveals a public growing tired of what he described as theatrical evasions every time the discussion turns to documents, confidential funds and financial records.
“May panahon na uubra ang tapang-tapangan at may panahon na uubra ang puro parinig. Pero kapag umabot ka na sa puntong halos buong bansa ang gustong marinig ang sagot mo sa Senado, hindi na iyan simpleng PR problem; krisis na iyan ng credibility (There is a time when bravado and insinuations will work. But when it comes to a point when almost the whole country wants to hear your answers before the Senate, that’s no simple public relations problem, that’s already a credibility crisis),” he said.
“Ito na ang pinakamalinaw na mensahe sa kanya: enough na sa yabang, enough na sa drama, enough na sa pag-iwas. Humarap ka, sumagot ka at patunayan mo sa tamang forum kung may masasandalan ka nga bukod sa press release (This is the clearest message to her: enough of the arrogance, drama and evasion. Face us, respond to the allegations and prove before the proper forum if you have someone to back you other than press releases),” Ortega added.
In a separate statement, House Committee on Public Accounts Chair Terry Ridon said the survey sends a clear message to Duterte to answer the allegations in a formal forum, not from the sidelines.
“For me, that 88 percent is simple. The public wants answers, not noise,” Ridon said. “Kung mali ang paratang, humarap ka at sagutin mo sa tamang forum (If the allegations are false, face it and answer it in the proper forum).”
He said the survey is not about spectacle but accountability, and the public now expects direct answers grounded in the records.
“Kapag 88 percent na ang nagsasabing sumagot sa formal proceeding, hindi na puwedeng iwasan. Tama na ang daldal. Magpakita kayo (When 88 percent say they want you to answer before a formal proceeding, that cannot be avoided anymore. Enough with the chatter and show up),” Ridon said.
“Harapin ang ebidensiya, sagutin ang tanong, linawin ang record. Iyan ang hinihingi ng tao (Face the evidence, respond to the questions and set the records straight. That’s what the people is asking).” (PNA)
