The House prosecution team rejects calls to halt Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial based on public satisfaction ratings, arguing that accountability under the Constitution is not determined by popularity. During a press briefing, prosecution panel spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers said the argument resembles a “pageant” and is misplaced, since impeachment aims to address alleged wrongdoing rather than reflect approval ratings. House prosecution legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. similarly said improved satisfaction ratings cannot weaken or halt the proceedings, emphasizing that impeachable officials remain subject to scrutiny based on evidence. The discussion followed references to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 58% of respondents are satisfied with Duterte’s performance and 26% are not. The prosecution team maintained that the impeachment process is a constitutional mechanism that evaluates alleged violations of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, regardless of survey results or public sentiment. The outlets report the remarks as a response to calls from some Duterte supporters to stop the trial, citing the survey figures.
House prosecution says VP Sara Duterte’s high ratings do not stop impeachment
The House prosecution team rejects calls to halt Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial based on public satisfaction ratings, arguing that accountability under the Constitution is not determi...
- House prosecution officials say impeachment accountability is based on evidence, not public approval.
- Spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers rejects calls to stop the trial, comparing the argument to a popularity contest.
- Private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. says high satisfaction ratings cannot shield the Vice President from impeachment.
- An SWS survey cited in the briefing reports 58% satisfaction and 26% dissatisfaction with Duterte’s performance.
- The prosecution team frames impeachment as a constitutional process to address alleged violations of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
Vice President Sara Duterte’s improved satisfaction rating does not mean she can evade accountability for alleged violations of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust as these are decided on evidence, not popularity, the House prosecution team said yesterday.
4 hours agoMANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s improved satisfaction rating cannot halt or weaken her impeachment trial because constitutional accountability is decided on evidence, not popularity. House prosecution legal spokesperson and private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. stressed that public approval does not place any impeachable official beyond scrutiny for alleged violations of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust. READ: Stop impeachment amid Duterte ratings? This ain’t a pageant – Barbers “This is not a popularity contest. It’s a constitutional accountability mechanism,” Tolosa emphasized. The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey discussed during the briefing was conducted from June 20 […]...Keep on reading: Tolosa: High ratings no shield from impeachment accountability
9 hours agoMANILA, Philippines — The argument that the impeachment proceedings should be stopped because Vice President Sara Duterte enjoys high satisfaction ratings is misplaced, as the pursuit of accountability is not a popularity contest or a beauty pageant, prosecution panel spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers said on Friday. Barbers and members of the House of Representatives’ prosecution team were asked during a press briefing about the call of some Duterte supporters to stop her trial after a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 58 percent of respondents were satisfied with her performance while only 26 percent were not — leading to a […]...Keep on reading: Stop impeachment amid Duterte ratings? This ain’t a pageant – Barbers
12 hours ago
Fatal ICE shooting in Maine heightens focus on Sen. Susan Collins in Senate race
A fatal shooting in Biddeford, Maine, involving a federal immigration officer has become a flashpoint in the state’s Sen...
DHS Secretary Mullin threatens states amid review of election security
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin makes new threats to state governments as the Department of Homeland Securi...
Andy Burnham sets out “No 10 North” as Labour leader after Keir Starmer’s resignation
Andy Burnham, the Labour “King of the North” and former mayor of Greater Manchester, is widely expected to become the ne...