House lead prosecutor and Committee on Justice chair Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro on Monday said the latest OCTA Research survey showing that a strong majority of Filipinos support proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte validates the prosecution panel’s belief in the public’s demand for accountability.

The latest Tugon ng Masa survey found that 74 percent of adult Filipinos support allowing the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial regardless of its eventual outcome. Only 21 percent opposed the trial, while 4 percent were undecided.

“Well, we welcome that survey; it only validates what we believe is the demand of the Filipino people now,” Luistro said in a press briefing at the House of Representatives.

Luistro said the survey results reflect the public’s desire to see the constitutional process move forward and for the allegations against the Vice President to be addressed through 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 (And we can see from what is happening around that the people really want the impeachment trial to continue),” she said.

“And this is what accountability mechanisms are all about.”

The OCTA survey showed support for the trial across all major geographic areas, with the highest levels recorded in the Visayas at 82 percent, followed by the National Capital Region at 81 percent and Balance Luzon at 77 percent.

Support was lowest in Mindanao at 58 percent, though a majority there still favored proceeding with the trial.

Impeachment Trial To Help Filipinos Assess VP Before 2028

Meanwhile, Luistro said the impeachment trial would help Filipinos determine whether Duterte deserves their trust and confidence should she pursue a presidential bid in 2028.

“That is why impeachment trial should happen because considering that she has pronounced already her intention to run for president in 2028, this impeachment trial will help the sovereign Filipino decide whether or not she deserves the faith and confidence of the electorate,” she said in the same press briefing.

The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and issuing threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Asked whether the allegations themselves raise questions about Duterte’s fitness for higher office, Luistro declined to make a judgment before hearing the Vice President’s defense.

“Well, we understand that we’ve been expressing about the strong Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President. I have reservations as far as the defense is concerned,” Luistro said. “Wala pa tayong nakita, (We haven’t seen) even a single piece of their evidence. Wala pa tayong narinig (We haven’t heard), even a single response to the allegations of offenses.”

“So, to the question, I cannot answer that until and unless I’ve seen the defense presented by the Vice President.”

Luistro stressed that the impeachment process is intended to give both sides the opportunity to present their evidence before the Senate impeachment court.

When asked whether she is personally motivated by the prospect of helping voters evaluate Duterte’s qualifications for higher office, Luistro said her role is not a matter of personal preference but of constitutional obligation.

“I am not simply motivated; I am bound by my constitutional duty. As I’ve been saying, this is not a question of choice,” Luistro said. (PNA)