EVEN though three in five Filipinos support having former president Rodrigo Duterte face trial for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court (ICC), some polls show his allies gaining momentum in the run-up to the May 12 midterm elections. Aries Arugay, chairman of the University of the Philippines Department of Political Science, said many Filipino voters seem to compartmentalize their views — wanting Duterte to be held accountable for alleged crimes against humanity, while still supporting the Senate bids of his closest allies. Ronald Dela Rosa, one of Duterte's staunchest defenders, jumped from the lower ranks to the top 5, riding on daily media exposure centered around defending the former president. Imee Marcos is slipping in the rankings, barely holding on to a spot within the top 16. When media popularity becomes the main qualification, it impacts legislative performance and the ability to check executive power," Arugay said as he expressed concern over this shift. Read Full Story
