Survey on VP Duterte’s impeachment reflects public outrage – lawmakers

Vice President Sara Duterte attends House probe into the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and DepEd (Photo from NOY MORCOS/ INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The growing number of Filipinos who want Vice President Sara Duterte impeached—as shown by a recent survey—is not surprising, said lawmakers and the counsel of impeachment complainants on Thursday.

They believe it reflects the public outrage over the alleged confidential fund misuse and other issues.

The sentiments came from House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun, Deputy Majority Leader, and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega V.

They said the numbers would not lie, noting that the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed the general frustration with the vice president.

SWS on Wednesday released survey results showing that 41 percent of Filipinos want Duterte impeached, while 35 percent were against it.

Another 19 percent of respondents were undecided.

READ: 41% for impeach rap, 35% against, 19% undecided 

“The numbers don’t lie. The public is demanding accountability, and this survey reflects their growing frustration over the glaring irregularities surrounding the Vice President’s actions,” Khonghun said in a statement.

“This is about accountability. The evidence against the Vice President is glaring, from the misuse of confidential funds to a pattern of governance riddled with questions,” Ortega added.

“The Filipino people deserve answers, and their support for impeachment shows they are demanding transparency and justice,” he said.

According to the two House leaders, the survey compels Congress to act on the complaints.

“The public expects us to ensure that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful they may be,” Khonghun said.

“The survey is just the beginning. The evidence is overwhelming, and the Filipino people deserve justice. No one is above the law—not even the Vice President,” he noted.

“Filipinos are watching. They clearly convey that leadership should be built on trust, not entitlement. It is now up to Congress to respond to their call for accountability,” Ortega added.

Lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the complainants who filed the third impeachment complaint against Duterte, said the number of Filipinos in favor of removing the vice president is expected.

“It’s not surprising that more Filipinos favor impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte than those opposed to it,” said Ligutan.

“There is palpable broad-based support for the initiatives to hold her accountable for the controversial manner in which she spent the multi-million confidential funds entrusted to her by the Filipino people and her even more controversial stance not to explain to the public how she did it,” he observed.

On December 2, sixteen (16) representatives of civil society organizations went to the office of House Secretary General Reginald Velasco to file the first-ever impeachment complaint against Duterte.

Former Senator Leila de Lima accompanied the complainants, while Akbayan Party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña endorsed the complaint.

Mentioned in first the complaint were claims that Duterte was responsible for confidential fund (CF) misuse and the vice president’s threats to ranking government officials.

The CF issues refer to the discoveries made by the House committee on good government and public accountability during its hearings.

These revelations include the admission from OVP and DepEd’s special disbursing officers that they left the disbursement of secret funds to security officers.

The findings also cover the alleged fake identities that were used to sign acknowledgment receipts.

READ: Solon: SDO’s move to give up fund release role may lead to malversation

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Duterte’s threats, on the other hand, happened when she launched an online press briefing on November 23.

She said that she had talked with someone about killing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, in case she gets assassinated.

Two days later, progressive groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan filed another impeachment complaint with betrayal of public trust as an article of impeachment.

Then, on December 19, lawyers and members of religious denominations filed a third complaint against the vice president.

READ: VP Sara Duterte slapped with 3rd impeachment complaint