HOUSE prosecution spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Thursday said public opinion on Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment case may still change after the presentation of the financial evidence against her.
He was reacting to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted before forensic analyst Alexander Cabrera testified in the Vice President’s impeachment trial.
The September 21-27 survey found that 47 percent were satisfied with the fairness of Duterte’s defense, and 30 percent with the fairness of the prosecution.
Dissatisfaction stood at 24 percent for the defense and 35 percent for the prosecution.
Cabrera presented his findings on October 9. The prosecution later withdrew three impeachment articles on October 13, leaving only Article II on unexplained wealth.
“The survey does not necessarily again speak about the understanding and the appreciation of the public as to the exact merits that are being discussed,” Adiong said at a press conference at Romualdez Hall.
The Lanao del Sur representative argued against treating a survey result as a final judgment on the prosecution’s work.
Asked whether later financial testimony would improve public satisfaction, he expressed optimism but stopped short of predicting a particular rating.
“Baka in the next survey, baka maiba yung resulta,” he said.
Alonto Adiong described the poll as a measurement tied to a particular period, as the prosecution continued explaining the financial records under Article II, the remaining impeachment charge.
“Ang survey ay parang snapshot at hindi siya yung talagang masasabi mong biblical truth,” he said.
SWS interviewed 1,500 adults nationwide face-to-face. Its questions measured respondents’ views of each side’s fairness in handling the case.
The survey was not a vote on conviction or a test of public reaction to Cabrera’s later testimony.l, Alonto Adiong said.
Alonto Adiong said the prosecution’s press briefings are meant to explain the financial records to the public.
He said the prosecution needed to show which documents supported the alleged differences in Duterte’s declared wealth and income.
“Kasi ito ‘yung mas technical na pinag-usapan sa lahat ng impeachment article,” he said.
He also maintained the prosecution’s constitutional task should not depend on whether a poll reflected approval of its performance.
Its immediate responsibility, he said, was to present evidence supporting the allegations against the Vice President.
“The survey may speak of different things. It cannot be automatically translated into the prosecution doing not the right thing,” Alonto Adiong said.
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