House Deputy Majority Leader La Union 1st district Rep. Paolo Ortega V was happy to interpret for impeached Vice President Sara Duterte what the results of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey meant.
“Ang mensahe ng survey ay malinaw: Harapin ang kaso, tumigil sa pamumulitika, at makipagtulungan para sa ikabubuti ng bansa. ‘Yan ang inaasahan ng taumbayan sa isang Pangalawang Pangulo,” Ortega said.
(The survey's message is clear: Face the case, stop politicking, and cooperate for the good of the country. That is what the people expect from a Vice President.)
Giving a shorter version, Ortega said: “Trabaho muna, politika mamaya—‘yan ang gusto ng taumbayan (Work first, politics later--that's what the people want)."
The recently reelected La Union congressman was referring to the SWS poll results, which indicated that 74 percent of Filipinos wanted Vice President Duterte to work with the government rather than fight it.
“Hindi po ito panahon ng awayan. Gusto ng mamamayan ay magkaisa tayong lahat para sa Bagong Pilipinas (This is not a time for conflict. The people want us all to unite for a New Philippines)," he said.
He also pointed out that 88 percent of Filipinos believed Duterte should face the impeachment charges and clear her name, as per the survey.
“Kung talagang walang kasalanan si VP Sara, bakit takot siyang harapin ang mga paratang? (If Vice President Sara is truly innocent, why is she afraid to face the accusations?)" asked Ortega, also a member of the House "Young Guns" bloc.
The SWS survey figures showed that 59 percent of Filipinos wanted her to stop politicking and focus on her duties as Vice President.
It also found out that 61 percent of Filipinos wanted Duterte to focus on her own policies rather than attack others, while 50 percent said she should stop criticizing the government and its programs.
“Kung may layunin siyang makakabuti, ipakita niya ito sa gawa, hindi sa pagbatikos. Hindi makatutulong ang sigawan. Ang kailangan ay solusyon (If her intentions are truly for the good, let her show it through actions, not criticism. Shouting won’t help—what’s needed are solutions),” Ortega stressed.
He said the numbers cannot be ignored and urged Duterte to listen to the people.