MANILA — A Makabayan lawmaker has claimed that support for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte may extend beyond opposition groups, saying even some Duterte supporters are reportedly in favor of allowing the Senate process to proceed.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co made the statement in a House of Representatives video, noting what she described as growing public interest in ensuring accountability through constitutional mechanisms.
The impeachment complaint against the Vice President, now transmitted to the Senate, contains several Articles of Impeachment approved by the House. These are summarized as follows:
Betrayal of public trust and serious misconduct, including alleged statements and actions interpreted as threats against key government figures
Misuse of confidential funds, involving alleged irregularities in the utilization of public funds in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education
Graft and corruption charges, citing possible violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
Alleged unexplained wealth and discrepancies in SALN filings, raising questions on asset declarations
Serious crimes and abuse of authority, as contained in consolidated impeachment complaints filed in the House
Alleged destabilization-related conduct, including accusations linked to actions or statements considered harmful to government stability
Cumulative misconduct, referring to the overall conduct of the Vice President as basis for impeachment
The impeachment complaint remains pending in the Senate, where trial proceedings have yet to formally begin pending scheduling and procedural action.
Co said that based on her observations, even some individuals identified as Duterte Diehard Supporters (DDS) have expressed openness to letting the Senate proceed with the trial instead of stalling the process.
She did not cite polling data or official research, clarifying that her remarks reflect perceived sentiment within public discourse.
The impeachment issue continues to divide political opinion, with allies of the Vice President dismissing the allegations as politically motivated while opposition lawmakers insist the Senate should act without delay to uphold accountability mechanisms under the Constitution.
IA/XF
