Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon warned on Saturday, March 28, that Vice President Sara Duterte’s distrust rating may increase in the coming months due to ongoing corruption allegations and legal maneuvers tied to her impeachment proceedings.
Ridon, a member of the House Committee on Justice, cited the latest Pulse Asia survey showing that 51.5% of respondents distrust Duterte, with alleged corruption cited as the leading concern across regions and socio-economic groups.
“The 51.5% distrust is not accidental. It is the direct result of the continued evasion of serious allegations, especially on confidential funds,” Ridon said.
He noted that the survey did not account for public reaction to the Supreme Court petition filed by Duterte’s supporters seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the impeachment hearings, which are currently focused on determining probable cause.
“This survey is a baseline of distrust before her latest legal maneuver. By running to the high court to block the 17-year audit of her tax and business records, she is only reinforcing the public’s worst fears,” Ridon argued.
“If 51% distrusted her then, that number will surely climb now that she is actively trying to suppress the evidence,” he added.
Ridon said Duterte’s refusal to personally attend committee hearings or directly respond to allegations has further fueled perceptions of evasion.
“When you do not show up and you do not answer, the public sees that as evasion. That is exactly what the survey is capturing. Whether through non-attendance or legal maneuvers, the effect is the same—an attempt to stop the process instead of answering the allegations,” he explained.
The survey also indicated that 21.4% of respondents cited Duterte’s threats against the administration and her critics, including her November 2024 remarks about an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and others, as another factor behind public distrust.
“The public is not asking for rhetoric or legal word salad. They are asking for clear, direct answers about ₱612.5 million in confidential funds and her ₱50-million wealth gap. These are evidence-based proceedings anchored on sworn records—you cannot ‘petition’ your way out of a forensic audit,” Ridon said.
He added that continued evasion could further undermine Duterte’s standing as she prepares for a 2028 presidential campaign. The House Committee on Justice expects government agencies to submit her tax, business, and SALN documents in the coming days in compliance with subpoenas.
“The subpoenas will be complied with. The Duterte financial documents will see the light of day in the coming days. The longer the answers do not come, the stronger the distrust becomes. You can delay a hearing, but you cannot delay the public’s verdict on your character,” Ridon concluded.