Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre believes that popularity won't be the deciding factor in the upcoming Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte--a presidential aspirant.

Speaking on May 30 at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City, Acidre says the impeachment of former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada over 20 years ago is proof that even the most popular leaders can be held accountable when the facts are laid before the public.

Acidre said this previous episode in the country's history involved an impeached popular president and a Senate dominated by his allies--much like the situation in 2026.

"In 2001, Erap was a very popular president. The Senate was dominated by his allies. But it changed the perception of the people, ‘yung ebidensya, ‘yung proseso (it's the evidence, it's the process),” Acidre said.

The Estrada impeachment trial ended in a political crisis after several senator-judges voted against opening an envelope believed to contain key evidence. It triggered massive public protests that culminated in the EDSA Dos uprising from Jan. 17 to 20, 2001, wherein Estrada was forced to step down from the Palace.

He later faced plunder and other related charges before the Sandiganbayan.

According to Acidre, the Estrada impeachment demonstrated that public opinion can evolve when citizens are given the opportunity to examine the facts for themselves.

"Kaya ako may tiwala sa prosesong ito kung makikita lang ng taumbayan ang stake nila, ang papel nila sa nangyayaring ito," he said.

(That’s why I trust this process if the people can only see their stake, their role in what is happening.)

Acidre, chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, said the lesson remains relevant today as Duterte faces an impeachment trial despite retaining a strong political following.

"So hindi ito bago na pangyayari. Hindi ito first time na mag-i-impeach tayo ng napakapopular na leader. Ginawa na natin ito dati,” he noted.

(So this is not a new event. This is not the first time we are impeaching a very popular leader. We have done this before.)

The Tingog solon also recalled that some politicians who sided with Estrada during the impeachment controversy eventually paid a political price at the polls. He says this underscored how public judgment can shift when voters are presented with evidence.

For Acidre, the impeachment trial against Duterte-a 2028 presidential aspirant--will test whether Filipinos remain committed to the principle that no one is above accountability and whether evidence can outweigh political popularity.

"This is the defining moment for this generation," Acidre said.

He says one challenge for those supporting the impeachment process is ensuring that the evidence is presented in a way that ordinary Filipinos can understand and relate to.

"Ang mahalaga, challenge din sa amin (The important thing is, as a challenge to us), is to make sure that our language, the way we present the case, would speak to the reality of ordinary Filipinos," he said.

Vice President Duterte's conviction via impeachment trial is being sought over her offices' alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds; untruthful declarations in the filing of her statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth; unexplained wealth; and death threats to President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez.