Fewer Filipinos are closely following Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial compared with previous impeachment cases, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, reflecting a trend discussed by PGMN Anchors Cj Hirro and Regal Oliva during the viral first episode of “The Peanut Gallery Podcast.”
SWS found that only 42% of adult Filipinos followed Duterte’s impeachment trial very or somewhat closely. That was lower than the 47% recorded during former President Joseph Estrada’s impeachment trial in January 2001 and the 52% and 54% recorded during former Chief Justice Renato Corona’s trial in 2012.
Only 15% said they followed Duterte’s trial very closely, while 28% followed it somewhat closely. Another 21% followed it only a little, 27% did not follow it at all and 9% said they only learned about the proceedings during the survey.
Despite months of impeachment proceedings and sustained political controversy, Duterte has continued to command majority approval and trust. Pulse Asia’s September 2026 survey recorded 54% approval and 55% trust for the vice president. Pulse Asia said small majorities of adult Filipinos continued to approve of Duterte’s performance and trust her.
SWS separately found 51% satisfied and 30% dissatisfied with Duterte’s performance, giving her a net satisfaction rating of positive 21. Her rating remained particularly strong in Mindanao at positive 72.
Duterte’s continued public support also became a major point of discussion in the first episode of “The Peanut Gallery Podcast,” which has gone viral across PGMN’s channels with more than 1 million views. During the episode, Hirro and Oliva compared her political standing with Estrada during his impeachment proceedings.
Watch the first episode of the Peanut Gallery Podcast here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DuyTabodq/
“During the hearing of President Erap Estrada, his numbers were declining. It was really going down, spiraling down… But VP Sara Duterte’s numbers are getting up,” Oliva said.
Hirro also highlighted how Duterte’s political base has remained difficult to shake despite the impeachment battle and controversies surrounding her.
“Even if they get to, like, the most controversial ones, I think they’re not gonna sway the Duterte base anymore. That’s solid already. This is just political survival,” Hirro said.
Duterte’s impeachment trial is now on a break and will resume Nov. 9, when the defense will begin presenting its evidence, with 25 days allotted for its case.
