Makabayan lawmaker Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co believes that even so-called DDS or Duterte diehard supporters want Vice President Sara Duterte's Senate impeachment trial to push through.

Speaking during the May 16 Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Co based her claim on the results of the April 2026 OCTA Research survey, which showed that 69 percent of Filipinos support subjecting the impeached to a constitutional trial.

She interpreted the lopsided figure like this: Many of those who favored the trial in the upper chamber were the Vice President’s own supporters.

“Clear naman po ‘yung numbers, may recent survey nagsabi 69 percent gusto nang magsimula ‘yung trial. Kahit mga mismong supporters ni VP Sara, gustong magsimula para ma-clear ‘yung name niya,” Co said.

(Clearly the numbers show it, there was a recent survey saying 69 percent want the trial to begin. Even VP Sara’s own supporters want it to start so her name can be cleared.)

The House of Representatives earlier impeached Duterte over allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Duterte has denied wrongdoing and dismissed the charges as baseless. However, she never appeared during the impeachment hearings held by House Committee on Justice.

Co said many Filipinos were frustrated that Duterte failed to directly address the accusations despite repeated opportunities to explain her side during this series of hearings.

“Unfortunate lang na sa lahat ng opportunities na na-provide kay VP ay hindi niya po hinawakan ‘yun o ginamit para ibigay ‘yung sagot na taon nang hinihintay ng taumbayan,” she said.

(It is just unfortunate that in all the opportunities given to the Vice President, she did not take them or use them to provide the answers the people have been waiting for over the years.)

She also warned that recent leadership changes in the Senate could affect the impeachment proceedings, saying some Duterte allies may try to weaken or stop the trial.

“Meron namang proposisyon na hindi talaga gawin at all ang trial. ‘Wag simulan dahil reflecting ‘yung posisyon ni VP Sara, quote unquote, 'Baseless siya,'” Co said.

(There is a proposition not to hold the trial at all, not to start it, reflecting VP Sara's position that it is, quote unquote, 'It's baseless.')

Still, the youth lawmaker from Makabayan has maintained that the impeachment case is backed by official government records and public documents that should be examined in a full Senate trial.

“Government documents ang hawak natin para masabi na may basehan na ‘yung impeachment offenses na china-charge sa kanya. Dapat i-hash out to a full-blown trial,” Co said.

(Government documents that establish a basis for the impeachment offenses charged against her. This must be hashed out in a full-blown trial.)

Conviction in the Senate trial would unseat Duterte as Vice President. She will also be barred from holding public office for life.