The House prosecution panel said the trust and approval ratings of Vice President Sara Duterte will not affect the ongoing impeachment trial, stressing that the proceedings are based on constitutional duty rather than public popularity.
House Prosecution spokesperson and former Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said Congress is mandated by the Constitution to enforce accountability mechanisms against high-ranking public officials who are alleged to have violated the law.
Barbers made the statement following the release of a survey showing Duterte with a +31 net satisfaction rating.
He noted, however, that the survey was conducted during the second quarter of the year, before the impeachment trial began.
In an interview with Brigada News FM Manila, Barbers said the outcome of future surveys—whether Duterte’s ratings rise or fall—will not influence the Senate’s handling of the impeachment proceedings.
He emphasized that the impeachment process is intended to uphold public accountability and is not based on political considerations.
According to Barbers, the proceedings are meant to determine whether government officials have committed acts that warrant constitutional accountability, regardless of their popularity or public support.
He added that the process is designed to demonstrate that no public official, regardless of position, is exempt from the rule of law or the accountability mechanisms established under the Constitution.
Barbers also said he expects the third week of the impeachment trial to be more “exciting,” although he did not provide additional details regarding the upcoming proceedings.
The House prosecution panel maintained that the impeachment case will continue to move forward under the constitutional process, independent of public opinion surveys or changes in approval ratings.
