MANILA 6th District Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. believes Vice President Sara Duterte is no longer as politically popular as she once was, but stressed that public judgment and the Senate impeachment verdict should rely on the evidence rather than politics.
Abante offered the assessment during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City after he was asked whether Duterte’s perceived political influence and invincibility remained intact amid the impeachment trial.
“Usong-uso ang fake news ngayon,” Abante said, warning that claims about political strength or public sentiment should not be accepted without scrutiny.
“Ako, naniniwala ako na Vice President is not as popular as before,” he added.
The congressman noted that the impeachment proceedings had given Filipinos more information on which to form an opinion about the vice president and the accusations against her.
“Naniniwala ako na nakita na ng taumbayan ang nangyayari. And I think that they are deciding. They are actually looking now for evidence,” Abante said, citing a recent survey indicating more than 50 percent of Filipinos want to see the evidence.
An Octa Research survey conducted in July 2026 showed that 80% of adult Filipinos want Duterte to face an impeachment trial and 55% of Filipinos want to first see and assess the evidence presented during the proceedings before making a final judgment.
The four Articles of Impeachment against VP Duterte charge her with misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth and Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) discrepancies, bribery of DepEd officials, and assassination threats against the President, First Lady, and former Speaker, plus incitement to sedition.
Abante stressed that popularity is distinct from constitutional accountability.
“I think the people of this country will decide on what is proper and what is right,” he said.
For the public to make an informed judgment, Abante said, the trial should continue openly and focus on the record developed before the impeachment court.
Meanwhile, Abante expressed hopes that the final verdict that would be handed down by the Senate impeachment court be based on evidence and not on mere partisan politics.
“Sana hindi maging exercise of politics ito,” Abante said.
Abante urged the senator-judges to evaluate each piece of evidence on its merits, regardless of political alliances or their prior views of the respondent.
“Huwag sanang magkaroon ng blinders o tinatawag nating political cataract ang mga senator-judges, na hindi na makita ang pieces of evidence na ipinresenta,” Abante said.
metrosundaily
