House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon on Saturday said the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte will continue despite her high satisfaction and approval ratings.

Speaking at Saturday News Forum, Ridon said the ratings enjoyed by Duterte would not affect the ongoing trial, stressing that the public deserves to know the truth behind the allegations raised against the Vice President.

Ridon said surveys indicate that many Filipinos have a high level of interest in the impeachment trial, regardless of whether they support Duterte or not.

“Hindi po pwedeng pagbanggain ang public support for the impeachment proceedings and Duterte’s trust, approval, satisfaction, and performance ratings,“ Ridon said.

He explained that the ratings measure how the public views Duterte’s performance as Vice President, while support for the impeachment proceedings reflects people’s desire to know the truth behind the allegations against her.

“Whether you are for or against the Vice President, you would want to know the truth behind the allegations,” the lawmaker emphasized.

He said the impeachment trial would allow the public to determine whether Duterte committed betrayal of public trust or culpable violations of the Constitution, citing allegations involving threats, the alleged misuse of confidential funds, alleged Mary Grace Piattos, and transactions amounting to P6.7 billion reflected in an Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) report.

Ridon also rejected what he described as propaganda suggesting that the impeachment trial should not proceed because Duterte has high satisfaction and approval ratings.

“Dapat mawasak ‘yung pong pinapaikot na propaganda na dahil mataas yung satisfaction ratings, mataas yung approval ratings, ay dapat hindi na tayo magtuloy sa impeachment trial,” he said.

He added that surveys on support for the impeachment proceedings show that the process is important to Filipinos across the political divide.

“The survey relating to the impeachment itself would show na across the political divide, mahalaga po ito pong proseso na hinaharap po natin sa paglilitis pong Pangalawang Pangulo,” Ridon said.

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