Marilyn Cahatol

Supporters flock to the launching of the  grassroots campaign "Mga Kaibigan", led by senatorial and congressional aspirants, former senators Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Atty. Leila Dr Lima, and Atty. Chel Diokno, in Quezon City on October 16, 2024. The campaign focuses on transparent governance, economic recovery, social justice, and youth empowerment, as the aspirants lead up to the 2025 midterm elections. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Mga Kaibigan Campaign Launch

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175265211953220241016-kaibigan-launch-MD-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Atty. Chel Diokno in Quezon City on October 16, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Atty. Chel Diokno in Quezon City on October 16, 2024. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Social Weather Stations (SWS) <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://SWS: 4 in 10 disagree with impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte">survey</a> showing 66% of Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte should confront corruption allegations through the impeachment process is, for Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, an “eye opener” that everyone is waiting for the impeachment trial to start.</p><p>Diokno added this indicates that the Filipino people have long been waiting to see the evidence in the trial.</p><p>The House <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/5/house-impeaches-vp-sara-duterte-1551">impeached</a> the vice president February this year. The Senate then<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://c"> convened</a> as an impeachment court in June.</p><p>“Tingin ko ‘yung lumabas na survey ay talagang eye opener ‘yan para sa lahat kasi ang pinapakita niyan inaantay ng samabayanang Pilipino ‘yung paglitis ng kaso. We are all waiting for the trial to begin,” Diokno said in a press conference on Wednesday, July 16.</p><p>The survey, conducted from June 25 to 29 among 1,200 individuals, also showed that 55% of respondents in Mindanao agree Duterte must address the accusations.</p><p>With the Duterte family having held political influence in parts of Mindanao for years now, Diokno believes the statistic proves people all over the country are unsatisfied with Duterte’s response to the allegations in the past.</p><p>“I think it shows that the stance taken by the vice president when the matter was being investigated by Congress ay hindi satisfied ang taong bayan pati ‘yung mga kapatid at kababayan natin sa Mindanao. And I think it’s about time that there be more transparency… Kailangan magkaroon ng pananagutan. Kailangan malaman ng tao kung paano at saan ginamit yung pera,” Diokno said.</p><p>This “public clamor” for a trial has an impact on the Senate impeachment court and the Supreme Court (SC), Diokno believes, especially as everyone in government is sensitive to public opinion, he said.</p><p>The SC recently requested information from both Houses of Congress on the impeachment proceedings.</p><p>But for the House lawmaker, what is stated in the constitution should be enough reason to conduct the trial now.</p><p>“Para sa ‘kin, talaga ‘yung dapat mangibabaw dito ay ano ba ‘yung utos ng ating saligang batas. Sa akin, malinaw ‘yun. Conduct the trial now,” Diokno said.</p><p>Diokno added, they will be ready no matter the date the Senate sets for the trial.</p><p>Diokno is one of the lawmakers announced to be joining the prosecution panel for the impeachment trial.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/14/sc-order-to-congress-should-not-delay-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-lawmakers-1611">SC order to Congress should not delay VP Sara impeachment trial: lawmakers</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;VINDICATION&#x27;</strong></div><p>Diokno&#x27;s sentiments were shared by at least two members of the House of Representatives, who agree that the survey shows a &quot;public clamor&quot; for a trial.</p><p>&quot;Habang tumatagal, lalung naiinip ang mga kababayan natin na marinig talaga &#x27;yung mga kasagutan sa tanong saan ba napunta &#x27;yung P612.5 million na confidential fund,&quot; said ACT Teachers Party List Representative Antonio Tinio. &quot;Habang tumatagal ay lalo lang lumalakas ang pressure para ituloy ang impeachment trial.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung 66% na figure, malaki &#x27;yun. Malinaw, overwhelming majority &#x27;yan ng mga kababayan natin na naghahanap ng sagot, gusto malaman ang katotohanan, at sa pamamagitan lang ng impeachment trial, mase-settle ito,&quot; he added.</p><p>Tinio and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong both consider the survey result as &quot;vindication&quot; of the lower chamber&#x27;s move to impeach the Vice President.</p><p>&quot;It&#x27;s a direct expression of what the people say, what the 19th Congress did, and what we continuously do, holding each official, the Vice President in this particular matter, accountable to her actions, it&#x27;s a vindication from the public that there&#x27;s really a clamor ng ating taong bayan na dapat &#x27;yung public clamor for accountability ng mga issues na hindi nasagot ay dapat masagot sa tamang paraan, which is this case, the impeachment trial,&quot; said Adiong.</p><p>Tinio is hopeful that the public clamor will have an effect on the Senate and the Supreme Court, while Adiong also noted that the House respects the Senate&#x27;s timeline as to when the impeachment court will reconvene.</p><p>&quot;Kapangyarihan po nila &#x27;yan. Kami dito sa House, we will maintain our position that we respect the Senate convening as an impeachment court, and we will comply with whatever orders they ask us to do especially the prosecution team,&quot; said Adiong.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DIOKNO REACTS TO PRRD BILL</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, in response to the <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/16/inspired-by-duterte-arrest-imee-marcos-seeks-to-punish-extraordinary-rendition-1218">“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Act”</a> proposed by Senator Imee Marcos seeking jail time for people committing “extraordinary rendition” of persons to a foreign jurisdiction, Diokno stressed the country still has an obligation to respect and follow International Criminal Court (ICC) procedures for crimes committed when the Philippines was a member, despite withdrawing from the ICC.</p><p>“Kahit na tayo ay kumalas na sa International Criminal Court, mayroon pa rin tayong mga obligasyon sa court sa ilalim ng Rome Statute for those crimes that are committed or covered by the jurisdiction of the ICC noong tayo ay miyembro,” Diokno said.</p><p>The ICC is also a “court of last resort,” he added.</p><p>The lawmaker was confident the ICC will conduct a fair trial as judges there &quot;cannot be coerced or intimidated.&quot;</p><p>“Kung kaya naman litisin nang maayos at patas ang kaso sa isang bansa tulad ng Pilipinas ay hindi na kailangan pang pumunta sa ICC… We can be assured of a fair trial if it is done in the ICC. The judges there cannot be coerced, intimidated, or otherwise influenced in their decision. Pati ang mga testigo ay hindi rin matatakot,” Diokno said. -- <strong>with a report from Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/15/potential-link-of-drug-war-sabungeros-case-could-be-added-evidence-vs-duterte-1135">&#x27;Missing sabungeros&#x27; case may boost ICC case vs Duterte: drug war victims&#x27; lawyer</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BX51zhz32B4?si=jBRP-aY61iM9Mi0U" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABcXTtLvEXyHiwiE"></script>

<p>The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing 66% of Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte should confront corruption allegations through the impeachment process is, for Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, an “eye opener” that everyone is waiting for the impeachment trial to start.</p>

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing 66% of Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte should confront corruption allegations through the impeachment process is, for Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, an “eye opener” that everyone is waiting for the impeachment trial to start.

Diokno: Survey results ‘eye opener’ that public wants VP Sara impeach trial to start

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Diokno: Survey results ‘eye opener’ that public wants VP Sara impeach trial to start

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 16, 2025 03:50 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 05, 2025 04:20 PM PHT

Read More:

impeachment

Duterte

Sara Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

SWS survey

ABSnews

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.