MANILA (July 14) — Public opinion on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial remains closely divided, but the prosecution has opened a slim lead over the defense, according to the results of an independent Tangere survey conducted during the first week of Senate proceedings.
The nationwide survey, conducted from July 7 to 10, found that 32 percent of respondents believed the prosecution had presented the stronger case, compared with 30 percent who favored the defense. A significant 38 percent said they remained undecided as the impeachment trial continues.
The results suggest that while many Filipinos are beginning to assess the arguments presented in the Senate, a large segment of the public is still withholding judgment.
Regional responses reflected the country’s political divide.
Respondents from Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon slightly favored the prosecution, with 33 percent backing the House prosecutors against 29 percent for the defense.
In Mindanao, however, support tilted toward Duterte’s legal team, with 34 percent favoring the defense and 27 percent siding with the prosecution.
The Visayas recorded the highest level of uncertainty, with 52 percent of respondents saying they had yet to decide. Among those who had formed an opinion, 25 percent favored the prosecution while 23 percent supported the defense.
The survey also showed that political affiliation remained a major factor in shaping public opinion.
Among respondents identifying as Duterte supporters, 60 percent backed the defense, while supporters of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., former Vice President Leni Robredo, and the Liberal Party overwhelmingly favored the prosecution by the same 60 percent margin.
Politically neutral respondents remained the least convinced, with 62 percent saying they had not yet decided which side had made the stronger case. Those who had formed an opinion were evenly divided, with 19 percent each supporting the prosecution and the defense.
The survey also gauged public sentiment on Senate President Francis Escudero’s performance as presiding officer of the impeachment court. It found that 58 percent were satisfied with his handling of the proceedings, while 25 percent expressed dissatisfaction. According to Tangere, dissatisfaction was highest among Duterte supporters.
The non-commissioned survey interviewed 1,200 respondents nationwide through a mobile-based application using stratified random quota sampling. It carries a ±2.77 percentage-point margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.
With nearly four in every 10 respondents still undecided, public opinion on the impeachment trial appears far from settled, suggesting that upcoming evidence, witness testimonies, and Senate proceedings could still influence how Filipinos view one of the country’s most consequential political trials.
