House prosecutors on Monday welcomed the latest OCTA Research survey showing that most Filipinos support the continuation of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the results reflect public demand for accountability.
House lead prosecutor and Committee on Justice Chairperson Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro said the survey validates the prosecution panel’s position that the impeachment process should move forward before the Senate impeachment court.
“Well, we welcome that survey. It only validates what we believe is the demand of the Filipino people now,” Luistro said in a press conference.
The latest OCTA Tugon ng Masa survey showed that 74 percent of adult Filipinos support allowing the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial, regardless of the eventual outcome. Twenty-one percent opposed the trial, while 4 percent were undecided.
Luistro said the findings show that Filipinos want the constitutional process to continue and the allegations against Duterte to be heard in the proper forum.
“At nakikita naman natin ’yun in what is happening around, na ang gusto talaga ng taumbayan ay magtuloy-tuloy itong impeachment trial,” she said.
“And this is what accountability mechanism is all about,” she added.
The House earlier impeached Duterte and transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, which has already convened as an impeachment court.
The OCTA survey showed majority support for the trial across all major geographic areas. Support was highest in the Visayas at 82 percent, followed by the National Capital Region at 81 percent and Balance Luzon at 77 percent.
Mindanao recorded the lowest level of support at 58 percent, although a majority of respondents there still favored proceeding with the trial.
Luistro said the 74-percent support nationwide strengthens the prosecution panel’s belief that Filipinos want the impeachment case to proceed in accordance with the Constitution.
“So we’re happy and we welcome that 74-percent survey in favor of holding the impeachment trial,” she said.
The Articles of Impeachment accuse Duterte of alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and issuing threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
House prosecutors have maintained that impeachment is a constitutional mechanism for transparency and accountability in government. They said they are prepared to move forward with the next phase of the proceedings and are awaiting official notice from the Senate impeachment court on the pre-trial and trial schedule.