THE new OCTA Research survey showing majority support for an impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Z. Duterte in Mindanao and across all socioeconomic classes reflects a broad and growing public belief that the constitutional process should be allowed to take its course.
Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Monday welcomed the numbers, saying he was encouraged that support for the trial is being affirmed not just nationwide, but in Mindanao itself and among Class C, D and E respondents.
“Magandang makita na ang suporta sa impeachment trial ay may malinaw na majority sa Mindanao at sa iba’t ibang socioeconomic classes. Ibig sabihin, mas dumarami ang nakakaunawa dito at mas marami na ang humihingi ng accountability sa ating mga opisyal,” Ortega said.
The OCTA “Tugon ng Masa” survey, conducted from March 19 to 25 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents, found that 69 percent of Filipinos believe Duterte should face trial before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court.
The OCTA survey’s main finding is that 69% of Filipinos nationwide support a Senate impeachment trial for VP Sara Duterte, with 28% opposed and 3% undecided.
Among the major geographic areas, support reached 61 percent in Mindanao, while opposition there stood at 38 percent and only 1 percent said they were undecided.
For Ortega, that Mindanao figure carries special meaning because the region has long been seen as one of the Vice President’s strongest political bases.
“Pati sa Mindanao, kung saan inaasahan ng marami na pinakamalakas ang simpatiya para sa Vice President, majority pa rin ang nagsasabing ituloy ang trial. Para sa akin, ang sinasabi niyan ay handa ang mga tao na pakinggan ang buong katotohanan at hayaang umandar ang proseso,” Ortega said.
The same OCTA survey also found majority support across all socioeconomic groups, with 71 percent support among Class ABC, 72 percent among Class D and 54 percent among Class E.
Ortega said those figures show that the sentiment is not confined to one class or one slice of the electorate, but is being shared across a wider social base.
“Mahalaga rin na majority ang support sa lahat ng socioeconomic classes. Ibig sabihin, hindi ito pananaw ng iisang grupo lang, kundi pananaw na tumatawid sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng lipunan, at para sa akin, mas nagpapatibay iyan sa legitimacy ng proseso,” Ortega said.
The survey also showed that public awareness of the impeachment complaints against Duterte remains high at 87 percent nationwide, with awareness in Mindanao even higher at 91 percent.
Ortega said that level of awareness makes the Mindanao result even more significant because it suggests the support is not coming from unfamiliarity with the issue, but from a public that has been paying attention.
He said the survey should be read not as a political weapon, but as a public cue that Filipinos, including those in the Vice President’s own region and among ordinary income groups, want the allegations answered in the proper venue.
“Sa akin, ang pinakamagandang mensahe dito ay may tiwala ang mas nakararami sa ating mga institusyon. At kung may mga tanong na dapat sagutin, mas maigi na masagot iyon sa isang proseso na bukas, pormal at naaayon sa batas,” Ortega said.
