Romer Butuyan 
KUNG pagbabatayan ang resulta ng survey na pinangasiwaan ng Social Weather Station (SWS), hangad din ng mga tagasuporta ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang pagsipot ng pangalawang pangulo sa paglilitis upang sagutin ang kinakaharap na kaso.
“The survey is very revealing. The Vice President remains the country’s highest-rated public official in terms of trust and satisfaction, yet 70% of Filipinos believe she should answer the impeachment charges,” wika ni House Committee on Higher Technical Education at Tingog partylist Rep. Jude Acidre.
“Taken together, these findings suggest that many of those who continue to support her also want to hear her respond to the allegations before the Senate impeachment court,” dugtong ng kongresista.
Para kay Acidre, malinaw ang mensahe ng SWS survey — na ang suporta kay Duterte ay hindi nangangahulugan ng pagkontra sa impeachment proceedings.
“The survey suggests that many Filipinos distinguish between supporting a public official and expecting that official to answer serious allegations before the Senate impeachment court. It appears many believe both can exist at the same time,” anang ranking House official.
Ganito rin ang posisyon ni dating Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers na tumatayong tagapayo at tagapagsalita ng lupon ng tagausig.
“The survey sends a powerful message. Filipinos may continue to support Vice President Sara Duterte, but they also want her to answer the impeachment charges against her. Public trust and accountability can go hand in hand,” sambit pa ng dating mambabatas.
Sa bisa ng ng SWS survey, sinabi ni Barbers, na nagsilbing lead chair ng House Quad Comm sa nakaraang 19th Congress, lumalabas na mali ang paniniwala na ang malakas na suporta ng bise presidente ay nagpapawala sa interes ng taumbayan sa impeachment trial.
“The Filipino people are making a clear distinction between popularity and accountability. They are saying that regardless of a public official’s ratings, serious allegations must still be answered,” ani Barbers.
“That makes this latest survey even more significant. Despite her strong public ratings, an even larger majority of Filipinos still believe she should answer the impeachment charges. Popularity is not immunity from accountability.”
