MANILA – House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Chair Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said on Saturday that the latest OCTA Research survey indicates strong public sentiment for Vice President Sara Duterte to address the impeachment allegations through the proper constitutional process.
Adiong said the survey reflects the public’s expectation that the issues against the Vice President be discussed in the appropriate venue, particularly in the House Committee on Justice and, if warranted, in an impeachment court.
“I hope the Vice President’s legal team will consider addressing all the allegations in the impeachment complaints within the proper forum. The latest survey reflects a clear public signal that Filipinos want these issues answered through the constitutional process now underway in the House Committee on Justice,” Adiong said.
He added that participation in the proceedings would give Duterte the opportunity to respond directly to the accusations.
Based on OCTA’s survey conducted from March 19 to 25, 69 percent of adult Filipinos believe Duterte should undergo an impeachment trial in the Senate, while 28 percent disagreed and 3 percent were undecided. The poll involved 1,200 respondents nationwide and carried a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.
The survey also showed high public awareness of the case at 87 percent, with stronger support for trial recorded in the Visayas (83 percent) and Metro Manila (81 percent), while Mindanao registered 61 percent.
Adiong stressed that the results do not determine the case outcome but highlight continuing public interest in the proceedings.
Meanwhile, former Far Eastern University law dean Mel Sta. Maria urged Duterte to personally attend the House Justice Committee hearings, saying only she can directly address the allegations, including claims of constitutional violations.
Sta. Maria said appearing in the hearings would also benefit the Vice President, allowing her to deny the accusations before the public.
“Kaya napaka halaga, ito ay para rin sa kanya…” he said, noting that attendance would give Duterte the chance to respond directly to the charges.
ia/xf
