The House impeachment team has begun taking discussions on Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial to local communities, saying the public deserves a clearer understanding of the case beyond the noise of national politics.
Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V said the effort aims to explain the impeachment process at the grassroots level as the Senate prepares to hear the charges against Duterte.
The trial will determine whether the Vice President should be convicted and face the constitutional penalties of removal from office and possible disqualification from holding public office. The charges transmitted by the House involve alleged misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and threats.
“Basically, siguro, to help people understand the impeachment more on the ground level. Local government, sa mga kasamahan,” Ortega said, referring to his role in the impeachment team.
He said many Filipinos still do not fully understand the process, making local engagement necessary as the case moves forward.
He mentioned that the impeachment team has already started bringing its message outside Metro Manila, with activities held in Iloilo and Tacloban. The solon also led an all-Ilocano press conference in his district last Sunday.
“We actually started last week, meron sa Iloilo, sa Tacloban. Ako, I had the press conference, all Ilocano press conference last Sunday na purely Ilocano po kasi iba rin po ‘yun,” he said.
The legislator said the team agreed to focus first on local communities instead of holding press conferences in the National Capital Region.
“Actually, parang it was a consensus. Huwag muna tayo mag-press conference dito sa NCR, balik tayo sa district, sa local, grassroots,” he said.
He said the team is working to maintain a clear and disciplined message, even as local audiences raise other concerns connected to governance and social services.
“One message. One messaging,” Ortega said.
“Like halimbawa sa akin, impeachment ‘yung topic namin, pero ang dami pa rin nilang tanong sa social programs,” he added.
He also said a sentiment survey in his district showed strong support for the impeachment trial to proceed.
“Yes. Nagpa-sentiments survey din ako so parang medyo mataas, mas mataas ng konti dun sa district ko around 82% na gusto matuloy ‘yun,” he said.
The La Union lawmaker rejected claims that impeachment is not a concern of ordinary citizens, saying accountability and good governance should matter to every Filipino.
“Well siyempre, accountability and good governance parang concern talaga, magiging concern dapat lahat ng mga tao,” he noted.
He said political spectacle often distracts the public from the central issue of accountability.
“Siyempre, minsan nabubulag tayo sa fanfare, sa mga antics, sa mga iba-ibang pakulo ng politika,” he said.
The solon mentioned that the impeachment trial would test whether the country’s accountability mechanisms still work.
“So kailangan, managot din po ‘yung mga kailangan managot. So pakita natin na gumagana po ‘yung tamang sistema sa Pilipinas,” he said.
Despite their role in the national impeachment proceedings, he said district representatives remain focused on the concerns of their constituents.
“Kami naman po, at the end of the day, pag-uuwi kami sa aming mga distrito, ‘yun naman po ang focus talaga namin,” he said.
He added that the public expects Congress to continue working as the impeachment process moves forward.
“Other than that, nakatutok lang po kami sa trabaho. And ‘yun nga, sana po mag-proceed na rin po itong inaantay natin na trial,” he remarked.
For him, the Senate trial must push through because the allegations have raised questions that can no longer be ignored.
“Kasi marami po talagang tanong ang taong bayan na kailangan na masagot,” he said.