Eroding trust

Into the third week of the impeachment trial, the proceedings moved along faster.

While half an hour was again wasted last Monday on one of the “it’s all about me” senators’ legal problems, presiding officer Francis Escudero finally put his foot down, telling his colleagues that such personal matters would henceforth have to wait for the resumption of the second regular session of Congress.

Yesterday, possibly expecting fireworks between the Cayetano siblings and National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag, Escudero further tightened the rules, telling senator-judges to ask questions after the prosecution and defense lawyers are done questioning witnesses.

People could then tune out as the senators began their usual ponderous questioning and extraneous commentary in the evening.

Monday’s issue on Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records was among the most contentious, so I braced myself for tedious legal jousting. But Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno, the lead House prosecutor on the matter of unexplained wealth, was impressive in his coolness and clarity. He deserves to sit as senator rather than several of the clowns and crooks in that chamber.

And you have to hand it to lead defense counsel Michael Poa: he defended his client the best way he could, also in a cool manner.

I missed part of the back-and-forth, which could have been good for my mental health, considering that a lot of the talking was being done by the Cayetano siblings. But in the end, the impeachment court also delivered, granting the request of the prosecution to subpoena the bank and tax records of the VP and her husband Manases Carpio, from 2007 when she joined the government as vice mayor until she became VP.

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The subpoena is the first step in the prosecution’s effort to prove that the VP and her husband have illegally amassed wealth, making her unfit not only for her post, but also from ever holding public office.

Those details are among the most awaited in this trial – matters that, unlike the VP’s meltdown video, have never been revealed to the public.

The thinking among certain opponents of the VP is that revelations of ill-gotten wealth would affect her image sufficiently to ensure her defeat in 2028, in case she is cleared by the impeachment court. After all, her ratings fell amid the House corruption probe in 2024; she’s not invincible, or immune from public outrage over corruption.

As for that meltdown video, presenting it as proof of her unfitness for public office must be puzzling for the Filipinos who voted by a landslide for someone who had said much worse before, during and after becoming president: Rodrigo Duterte. It’s also puzzling for the 32.2 million (more than BBM’s 31.1 million) who voted for Sara as VP despite her being an uncharismatic version of her father.

Surveys have shown VP Duterte’s support steady at 57-58 percent in both the Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys.

The VP can pursue her presidential bid if the prosecution fails to secure 16 votes (as ruled by Escudero) for her conviction. As of today, that 16 is still iffy; the VP still has the numbers in the Senate for acquittal.

Their support for her may harden if she maintains her survey ratings throughout the trial, widening the gap between her and President Marcos, whose numbers are on a steady decline.

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A week before his penultimate State of the Nation Address, BBM’s trust and approval ratings are at a record low, with more Filipinos distrusting him and disapproving of his performance.

In his fifth SONA, he will have to present a progress report on his “mahiya naman kayo” shame campaign against corruption. He can’t simply tell the people, “eh hindi nahiya (they weren’t shamed).”

He can point to the “big fish” caught so far in the anti-corruption net: Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta and former senator Bong Revilla, along with former public works chief Manuel Bonoan and contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya.

But people are waiting for what they see as the leviathans in this scandal, who are not administration opponents, to be tossed into the New Quezon City Jail together with those current and former senators.

These are BBM’s cousin, former House speaker Martin Romualdez, and resigned Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co.

People are also wondering about the status of the accusations hurled against BBM’s aides who have been forced to resign after being linked to the flood control and budget scandal, led by his former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin and the latter’s favorite grandnephew Adrian Bersamin.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has said Romualdez is expected to face indictment “very soon” for non-bailable offenses, although we’ve heard this tune before.

The VP also benefits from being estranged from the administration, and therefore not in the line of fire on gut issues that have always impacted performance assessments, notably inflation and jobs.

BBM failed to deliver on his promised relief from soaring fuel prices. One-time or even monthly ayuda doesn’t cut it.

He will also take the hit once the highest-ever wage hike of P85 approved by the populist politician he appointed as labor chief takes effect this month. Employers, who had opposed the amount, have warned of layoffs and shutdowns even in business conglomerates, while economists see accelerated inflation as the cost is passed on to consumers.

And the labor chief didn’t even get his expected thanks from organized workers, who complain that the increase is not enough.

Perhaps BBM believes he’s doing nothing wrong and finds the slide in his ratings puzzling. But the perception is that in addressing urgent national concerns, he’s doing nothing, period.