PRETENDING that Sara Duterte has no genuine support would also be dishonest. Many, despite everything, still sincerely admire her. Some appreciate her directness in a political culture full of polished but empty speeches. Others still associate the Duterte name with discipline and decisiveness.
Mocking supporters as blind followers only deepens division. Many are simply tired of weak governance and leaders who disappear after elections. But admiration alone cannot exempt any official from scrutiny. Elections give leaders authority, not immunity. A popular mayor can still face audit. A respected school head can still be investigated. The same standard should apply to a vice president.
Part of what makes this issue more confusing is how quickly fake or misleading information spreads online.
Beyond the online noise, questions about transparency and accountability have also continued to grow.
Another issue quietly bothering many observers is Duterte’s continued absence from several key hearings connected to the controversy. Legally, Duterte can choose her own defense strategy.
But beyond legal rights, many also look at whether leaders are willing to personally answer serious questions. In the country, showing up during difficult moments still matters to many people. Her repeated absence from hearings has only deepened public doubt rather than reassurance
That is exactly why the Senate trial matters if impeachment proceeds. Impeachment is not automatic guilt. The House only determines whether enough grounds exist to formally accuse a public official.
The Senate serves as the impeachment court precisely because impeachment is supposed to be fair, not rushed. The House only decides whether enough basis exists to move the case forward. The Senate is where evidence is reviewed carefully and where both sides get the chance to answer publicly.
Many mistakenly treat impeachment as immediate guilt when it is really meant to be part of due process. If Duterte and her allies truly believe the accusations have no basis, then facing the trial directly may even strengthen her credibility.
But what kind of trial will the country witness?
Filipinos have seen enough political spectacles over the years to recognize when hearings become more about performance than truth. Many are now simply hoping for a process grounded more in evidence, fairness, and accountability than in political grandstanding.
But everyone also knows the politics surrounding the issue are real. Some lawmakers fear losing allies or damaging future political plans if they vote for impeachment. The PDP itself warned representatives of possible consequences. That reality says a lot about how politics works in the country.
Still, constitutional duty loses credibility when leaders only respect it when it benefits them. Institutions do not collapse only through dramatic scandals. Sometimes they weaken quietly whenever fear becomes stronger than responsibility.
Perhaps that is why this issue feels bigger than Sara Duterte herself. The country has long struggled with selective accountability. Ordinary employees can face sanctions for small paperwork errors, while controversies involving influential figures drag on for years. Teachers understand this frustration deeply. A missing signature can trigger memos immediately, yet billion-peso controversies often remain unresolved. Over time, people begin believing rules only apply to ordinary citizens while the powerful operate under different standards. That quiet loss of trust damages democracy more than politicians realize.
Perhaps that is why the issue continues to feel deeply personal to many Filipinos, even beyond politics itself. For many people, the debate is no longer just about one politician or one family, but about whether accountability still applies equally in the country.”
Still, fairness must remain central. Duterte deserves due process. Evidence should be examined carefully, not emotionally. We should resist turning impeachment into entertainment or online blood sport. One can support accountability without celebrating humiliation. One can criticize Duterte without demonizing every supporter she has.
In the end, it is about whether we still believe no public office should become too powerful to answer difficult questions.
If allegations this serious are brushed aside because of political loyalty or dynastic power, then accountability in the country risks becoming selective theater instead of democratic principle. Public trust is not inherited like a family name or political machinery. It has to be earned, defended, and explained repeatedly./PN
