Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Ranking congressmen aren't surprised by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results, which showed that 41 percent of Filipinos support Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment.

House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V and House Assistant Majority Leader Zambales 1st district Rep. Jay Khonghun said the survey reflects public outrage over Duterte’s alleged mismanagement of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as secretary.

“The numbers don’t lie. The public is demanding accountability, and this survey reflects their growing frustration over the glaring irregularities surrounding the Vice President’s actions,” Khonghun said. 

He said past congressional hearings have unearthed alleged damning evidence, including fabricated recipients like “Mary Grace Piattos” and thousands of suspicious transactions tied to confidential funds under the Vice President’s control.

The survey, conducted between Dec. 12 and 18, 2024, showed that 41 percent of Filipinos support Duterte’s impeachment, while 35 percent oppose it, and 19 percent remain undecided. 

Duterte so far faces three impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives, which accuse her of gross incompetence, betrayal of public trust, and deliberate misuse of public funds. 

Ortega emphasized that the complaints are not politically motivated but are rooted in compelling evidence of governance failures and malfeasance.

“This is about accountability. The evidence against the Vice President is glaring, from the misuse of confidential funds to a pattern of governance riddled with questions. The Filipino people deserve answers, and their support for impeachment shows they are demanding transparency and justice,” Ortega said.

A months-long investigation by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, revealed irregularities in Duterte’s handling of public funds. 

The committee uncovered that confidential funds meant for official purposes were disbursed to unauthorized individuals, including security officers instead of designated special disbursing officers, who testified that their actions were carried out under the explicit instructions of Vice President Duterte. 

Further investigations revealed that alleged falsified acknowledgment receipts were issued, signed by fictitious individuals such as “Mary Grace Piattos” and “Kokoy Villamin", who were listed as recipients of confidential funds under Duterte’s leadership. 

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed that no records of these names exist, raising serious doubts about the legitimacy of these transactions.

The committee also found that the OVP spent P16 million to rent 34 safe houses for just 11 days in late 2022, with one safe house costing nearly P91,000 per day. 

Also, the OVP claimed to have allocated P15 million for youth leadership summits supposedly conducted with the Philippine Army. 

However, military officials denied receiving the funds, stating that the events were supported by the military and local governments, raising suspicions of fabricated activities to justify fund disbursement.

Khonghun said the survey results reinforce the responsibility of Congress to uphold the integrity of the impeachment process. 

“The public expects us to ensure that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful they may be,” he said. 

Ortega agreed, adding that the findings of the Blue Ribbon Committee demonstrate a clear pattern of deception and abuse.

“Filipinos are watching. They are sending a clear message that leadership should be built on trust, not entitlement. It is now up to Congress to respond to their call for accountability,” Ortega said.

As the impeachment complaints undergo deliberation in the House and public scrutiny intensifies, Duterte faces the toughest test of her political career. 

“The survey is just the beginning. The evidence is overwhelming, and the Filipino people deserve justice. No one is above the law—not even the Vice President," Khonghun said.