From left to right: La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V, Vice President Sara Duterte, Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun (Facebook)

Putting their analytical caps on, House Assistant Majority Leaders Jay Khonghun of Zambales and Paolo Ortega of La Union claimed to know the reason behind Vice President Sara Duterte's falling trust and approval rating. 

According to the two "Young Guns" members, Filipinos are seeking answers about the controversies surrounding Duterte’s questionable use of confidential funds, both in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and during her two-year tenure as Department of Education (DepEd) secretary. 

“Vice President Duterte’s dropping trust ratings signal a critical problem in the way people see her. When a public official faces controversies that go unexplained, people find it hard to trust them. If these issues aren’t addressed, it could seriously damage her credibility over the long term," Khonghun said in a statement Saturday, Nov. 2. 

Figures from the recent OCTA Research survey showed a six-point decline in Duterte’s trust rating, now at 59 percent; and an eight-point drop in her performance rating, which has fallen to 52 percent from a previous high of 87 percent last year. 

Khonghun highlighted that issues requiring immediate explanation include an alleged P15 million in confidential funds purportedly allocated for a youth leadership summit, funds which the military later denied receiving; as well as a P16 million expense for renting safehouses in late 2022. 

“If these controversies aren’t clarified, how can she expect people’s trust in the future? Trust is earned through transparency and accountability, qualities that should be part of every public servant,” Khonghun said. 

For his part, Ortega observed that Duterte’s steep drop in ratings highlights how public trust can erode when accountability is ignored. 

“From a high of 87 percent in March 2023 to 59 percent today, that’s a big drop.People want leaders they can trust. To keep the public’s confidence, leaders need to be open and transparent," Ortega said. 

He also stressed that ignoring these controversies could undermine Duterte’s credibility if she intends to stay in public service. “Silence is not an option, especially when the public is watching closely,” he added. 

“The duty to address issues that may hurt people’s trust should be a priority. If VP Duterte keeps avoiding these controversies, it sets a worrying example for accountability in government,” Khonghun remarked. 

Ortega said reckoned that a true leader "does not hide behind controversy". 

"She should show the public that she has nothing to hide and is willing to address these issues openly,” he stated.