Nearly four out of five Filipinos are either skeptical or withholding judgment on whether senators will decide the impeachment case against Vice PresidentSara Duterte solely on the basis of evidence and the law, according to an OCTAResearch Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from April 20 to 24, 2026 among 1,200 adult Filipinos.
The survey found that only 19 percent of respondents believed senators would base their decision entirely on the evidence presented during the proceedings. Meanwhile, 32 percent said they did not believe senators would do so, while 49 percent said they were undecided.
The findings come as the Senate prepares to convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Duterte, who has denied wrongdoing and maintained that she is prepared to answer the allegations through the proper legal process.
The results reflect concerns that political considerations could influence the proceedings, with a significant majority of respondents either expressing skepticism or reserving judgment on the Senate’s ability to act as an impartial tribunal.
Under the Constitution, senators serving as judges in an impeachment trial are tasked with evaluating evidence and rendering a verdict based on the merits of the case. However, the survey suggests that public confidence in the Senate’s impartiality remains a challenge ahead of the proceedings.
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews and carries a margin of error of ±3 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.
As preparations for the trial continue, the findings underscore the importance of transparency, fairness, and adherence to due process in maintaining public trust in the eventual outcome of the case.
