Amid Vice President Sara Duterte’s declining trust and approval ratings, two House leaders raised serious concerns over her accountability to the public, describing the situation as a growing issue in public perception.
House Assistant Majority Leaders Jay Khonghun of Zambales and Paolo Ortega of La Union said Filipinos are seeking clear answers on the alleged questionable use of confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President and at the Department of Education which she previously headed.
“Vice President Duterte’s dropping trust ratings signal a critical problem in the way people see her,” Khonghun said.
“When a public official faces controversies that go unexplained, people find it hard to trust them. If these issues aren’t addressed, it could seriously damage her credibility over the long term.”
Recent data from the OCTA Research survey showed a six-point decline in Duterte’s trust rating, now at 59 percent, and an eight-point drop in her performance rating, which has fallen to 52 percent from a previous high of 87 percent last year.
Khonghun said issues requiring immediate explanation include the P15 million in confidential funds allegedly allocated for a youth leadership summit as well as P16 million for renting safehouses in late 2022.
“If these controversies aren’t clarified, how can she expect people’s trust in the future? Trust is earned through transparency and accountability, qualities that should be part of every public servant,” Khonghun said.
Ortega added: “From a high of 87 percent in March 2023 to 59 percent today, that’s a big drop. People want leaders they can trust. To keep the public’s confidence, leaders need to be open and transparent.”
“Silence is not an option, especially when the public is watching closely,” he added.
Earlier, Manila Rep. Joel Chua said Duterte may face impeachment over the alleged mismanagement of funds, specifically for the budget for the safe houses and the youth summit.
“In these two instances, unless of course they can prove that their use is justified, but as we see it, they really have liability. Those two instances we can say are grounds for impeachment because obviously there was betrayal of public trust and elements of graft,” Chua said.
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