SIX OF 10 Filipinos think Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio should undergo an impeachment trial, according to a poll by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
Commissioned by think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, the survey found that 66% of Filipinos think the Vice-President should answer the impeachment charges against her before the Senate.
Support for the trial was strongest in Metro Manila, where 76% backed the move. It was followed by Luzon at 69% and the Visayas at 67%. Mindanao, Ms. Duterte’s political stronghold, registered the lowest support at 55%.
“The data indicates growing public expectations for institutional accountability and prompt action,” SWS said in a statement.
Ms. Duterte, a likely contender in the 2028 presidential race, is facing charges of secret fund misuse, unexplained wealth and alleged destabilization efforts including plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his family and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. She has denied all accusations.
The impeachment complaint, filed in February, gained the support of more than 200 congressmen — well beyond the constitutional threshold of one-third required to elevate the case to the Senate for trial.
In a separate SWS survey conducted from June 25 to 29, 44% of respondents said the Senate was deliberately delaying the start of the trial. This comes despite calls from lawmakers and civil society groups to immediately begin proceedings.
“Transparency, accountability and due process are the foundations of a functioning democracy,” Stratbase President Victor Andres C. Manhit said in the statement. “Any perception of delay or inaction risks undermining public trust — not just in individuals, but in the system itself.”
The Senate earlier voted not to dismiss the complaint but returned the articles of impeachment to the House to certify that the charges do not violate the Constitution and that the lower chamber intends to pursue the case in the 20th Congress.
This decision followed intense debates after a Duterte ally in the Senate filed a motion to dismiss the case on the same day the chamber convened as an impeachment court.
The SWS survey also found that 59% of Filipinos were already aware of the impeachment case. Awareness was highest in Metro Manila, followed by the Visayas (64%), Luzon (57%), and Mindanao (52%).
“This level of awareness reflects a more engaged and vigilant public,” Mr. Manhit said. “Filipinos are watching closely and expect the country’s democratic institutions, particularly the Senate, to act decisively and impartially.”
“When half the population is already informed about an ongoing impeachment case, it shows that citizens are not just passive observers. They are actively following developments, asking questions and expecting accountability from public officials,” he added.
The Senate is expected to reconvene as an impeachment court on July 29, a day after the opening of the 20th Congress. A new set of senator-judges will be sworn in on the same day. — Adrian H. Halili
