Bayan Ako'y Nanindigan, Matalino, Diliman District (2026)

18/07/2026

Crime, Public Fear and the Growing Sympathy for VP Sara Duterte.

The recent attacks against motorcycle taxi and ride hailing drivers have intensified public anxiety over street crime. In one particularly disturbing latest case, a motorcycle taxi rider booked for a trip from Manila to Cavite was robbed and killed. The suspect allegedly used the victim’s phone afterward to demand money from his grieving family. Police have since announced coordination with ride hailing companies following separate fatal attacks on drivers. These workers, often breadwinners who remain on the road late at night represent the ordinary Filipinos most exposed to violence and economic insecurity.

Official figures, however, present a more complicated picture. The Philippine National Police reported that focus crimes fell by 25.77% in May 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. This means it may not be accurate to describe the situation as a nationwide statistical crime surge. Nevertheless, highly visible and brutal incidents can still produce a genuine feeling of insecurity especially among commuters, delivery riders, vendors and other low income workers who experience danger directly.

This gap between official statistics and everyday fear has political consequences. Many Filipinos continue to associate the Duterte name with strong, decisive action against drugs and street crime. Whether that reputation is fully supported by evidence is debatable, but politically perception often matters as much as statistics. When citizens believe that criminals are becoming more fearless, they naturally become more receptive to leaders who project discipline, authority and swift enforcement.

This may help explain why Vice President Sara Duterte’s public support has remained resilient amid her impeachment trial. Rather than automatically weakening her, the proceedings may be reinforcing the belief among her supporters that she is being politically targeted. She also remains a leading prospective candidate for the 2028 presidency, despite the serious accusations she faces and her denial of wrongdoing.

The administration therefore faces a serious perception problem. While government institutions devote enormous public attention and political energy to the impeachment trial, ordinary citizens are asking more immediate questions. Are commuters safe? Who protects drivers working after midnight? Why are poor families repeatedly becoming victims of robbery, violence and exploitation?

The arrest and prosecution of political personalities must also follow evidence, due process and equal application of the law. Without these safeguards, the timing of cases against opposition figures can be interpreted as intimidation or an effort to eliminate political rivals, even when courts have found probable cause. Such perceptions can strengthen, rather than destroy the political figures being targeted.

The government does not have to choose between accountability and public safety. It must do both. The impeachment process should proceed independently and fairly, while law enforcement agencies intensify street patrols, regulate passenger verification, improve emergency response systems and provide stronger protection for ride hailing drivers.

If the administration appears more determined to defeat its rivals than to protect vulnerable citizens, every new street crime becomes politically damaging. It feeds nostalgia for Duterte style leadership and converts public fear into sympathy for the Vice President. The greatest threat to the administration may therefore be not Sara Duterte alone, but the growing belief that political warfare has become more important than the daily safety of the Filipino people.