Vice President Sara Duterte (left), Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre (PPAB, Facebook)

It's time for other Filipinos' voices to be heard regarding the moves to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. 

This was Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre's thought as he reflected on the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC)-led rally in Manila on Monday, Jan. 13 that drew an estimated 1.5 million people.

Although it was presented as a gathering for peace and national unity, the rally undoubtedly had political undertones. It was attended by political allies of the beleaguered Vice President, who is being hounded by a total of three impeachment complaints. 

"Well it made me think of how many more unspoken voices are yet to be heard about all this issues. Syempre magandang isipin din at magandang pakinggan na ano pa yung sinasabi ng iba," Acidre said in television interview. 

(Of course it's good to think about and listen to what others are saying.)

"Alam naman natin kung gaano karami yung [INC] at meron sila na halos three million na miyembro sa buong Pilipinas (We know how large the INC is, they have nearly three million members in the entire Philippines), but we also would want to know what the others are thinking," he noted.

"It’s also helpful to listen to others in shaping your own opinion especially when their opinion is different from yours," the House assistant majority leader said.

Acidre is a supporter of the impeachment raps against Duterte, who is the second highest-ranked official in the government. 

"It also presents as with a challenge of further explaining our position why such a process should continue," the congressman from Visayas said.

"Hindi naman ‘yung ibabalewala natin, pero siguro it's also a challenge for us to explain bakit mayroon ganitong impeachment process na mangyayari o nangyayari," he explained.

(It's not like we're going to ignore it, but maybe it's also a challenge for us to explain why such impeachment process will happen or is happening)," he explained.

"To hold someone accountable through the impeachment process is necessary and definitely a part of our democratic system," Acidre stressed.