Half of Filipinos tune out Sara Duterte impeachment trial: survey

A survey by Momentum Research found that half of Filipino adults are not following the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, while those who have formed a view rate her defense team better than the prosecution.

The National Momentum Survey, conducted Aug. 18 to 23, 2026, found that 50.3% of respondents said they were not following the trial when asked which side had performed its duties better.

Another 8.9% said they did not know or were unsure, and 2.3% refused to answer, for a combined 11.2%.

Of those with an opinion, 23.3% said the defense, composed of private lawyers, had performed better.

Only 15.2% favored the prosecution, composed of public prosecutors from the House of Representatives and their private counsel.

Momentum Research said that during fieldwork, the prosecution presented evidence and witness testimony on Article II of the impeachment articles, which covers the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

The firm said the public’s hesitation to pick a side may also reflect the finding that 47.9% believe it is too early to say whether Duterte should be convicted or acquitted.

The survey question on the verdict cited allegations of anomalous use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education employees, and an attempted assassination of the president and his family.

More respondents said the impeachment court should convict the vice president (24.4%) than acquit her (16.0%), even though more favored the defense’s performance.

Another 8.4% said they did not know or were unsure, while 3.3% refused to answer.

Momentum Research said Filipinos may form firmer views as more evidence and testimonies are presented, unless more people stop following the proceedings or find them difficult to understand.

The survey found that regional and partisan lines shaped opinion on the trial.

Mindanao, Duterte’s political stronghold, was the only area where a large share favored one team. There, 40.0% said the defense performed better, compared with 6.3% for the prosecution, while 36.5% were not following the trial, 13.2% were unsure, and 4.1% refused to answer.

In Metro Manila, 21.1% favored the defense and 12.9% the prosecution, while 55.4% were not following the trial, 10.5% were unsure, and none refused to answer.

In the Rest of Luzon, 18.9% favored the prosecution and 16.5% the defense, while 55.5% were not following the trial, 6.3% were unsure, and 2.7% refused to answer.

In the Visayas, 20.5% favored the defense and 19.1% the prosecution, while 51.1% were not following the trial, 8.5% were unsure, and 0.8% refused to answer.

At least three in five respondents in each of these three areas either did not follow the proceedings, were unsure, or refused to answer.

Among pro-Duterte respondents, 44.1% said the defense performed better, compared with 7.1% for the prosecution. Another 41.4% were not following the trial, 7.1% were unsure, and 0.2% refused to answer.

Independents, who made up 45.5% of the sample, were the most disengaged group: 59.5% did not follow the trial, 10.2% were unsure, and 3.0% refused to answer, for a combined 13.2%.

The independents who took a position were evenly split, with 13.7% each favoring the defense and the prosecution.

Pro-Marcos and pro-opposition respondents who took a position leaned toward the prosecution.

Among pro-Marcos respondents, 31.1% favored the prosecution and 22.1% the defense, while 39.6% were not following the trial, 3.5% were unsure, and 3.7% refused to answer.

Among pro-opposition respondents, 34.7% favored the prosecution and 10.5% the defense, while 48.5% were not following the trial, 4.6% were unsure, and 1.7% refused to answer.

Momentum Research defined pro-opposition respondents as those who align with former Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Sen. Bam Aquino, and their allies.

Views across generations tracked the national findings, with Gen X the most uncertain. Among Gen X respondents (n=429), 53.2% did not follow the trial, and a combined 13.8% were unsure or refused to answer, roughly two in three overall, compared with about three in five in each of the other generations.

Gen X respondents favored the defense 22.3% to 10.7%, with 11.1% unsure and 2.7% refusing to answer.

Among Gen Z respondents (n=314), 21.0% favored the defense and 19.2% the prosecution, while 48.7% were not following the trial, 10.1% were unsure, and 1.0% refused to answer.

Among millennials (n=411), 25.7% favored the defense and 14.0% the prosecution, while 52.6% were not following the trial, 4.6% were unsure, and 3.0% refused to answer.

Among baby boomers and the Silent Generation (n=283), 23.9% favored the defense and 16.1% the prosecution, while 43.8% were not following the trial, 13.0% were unsure, and 3.1% refused to answer.

The non-commissioned survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,487 Filipino adults. It has a national margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Subnational margins of error are plus or minus 6.9% for the National Capital Region, 3.8% for the Rest of Luzon (North, South, and Central Luzon), 5.8% for the Visayas, and 5.5% for Mindanao, all at the 95% confidence level. Margins of error are larger for disaggregated estimates, particularly for smaller subgroups.

The August 2026 survey also covered government performance, voting intentions for the 2028 national elections, and national issues including Pax Silica, systems loss, the minimum wage, the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, and school-related violence.

Momentum Research, a nonpartisan public opinion research firm, released the findings on Sept. 30. Complete results are posted on its public dashboard at momentumresearch.ph.

(Tables Source: The National Momentum Survey (August 2026), Momentum Research. Fieldwork: Aug. 18 to 23, 2026; n=1,487; national margin of error plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at 95% confidence. Subnational margins of error: NCR ±6.9%, Rest of Luzon ±3.8%, Visayas ±5.8%, Mindanao ±5.5%. Margins of error are larger for disaggregated estimates, particularly for groups with smaller sample sizes.)