Over 70% of Filipinos want VP Sara Duterte to answer impeachment charges: SWS

About 70 percent of Filipinos want Vice President Sara Duterte to address the impeachment charges filed against her, according to the latest Social Weather Survey (SWS). In the national Social Weather Survey conducted a week before the start of the impeachment trial of the Vice President, from June 20 to 29, 2026 found that 70% agreed, 13% were undecided, and 17% disagreed that “Vice-Pres. Sara Duterte must address the impeachment charges to be able to answer ALL allegations pertaining to the corruption charges filed against her.” "This gives a net agreement score of +52 (% agree minus % disagree, correctly rounded), up by 5 points from +47 (67% agree, 19% disagree, correctly rounded) in March 2026," according to the SWS. "It was at +56 (72% agree, 15% disagree, correctly rounded) in September 2025 and +48 (66% agree, 19% disagree, correctly rounded) in June 2025." Knowledge of impeachment case The June 2026 survey also showed that 74% of adult Filipinos knew that the impeachment case against Duterte was with the Senate and was expected to proceed to trial. The remaining 26% learned about it only during the interview. The findings are from the same Second Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey that previously reported the latest satisfaction ratings of the President, Vice President, Senate President, and Chief Justice. The survey items reported, the SWS added, were non-commissioned and done on its own initiative and released as a public service. It was in the June 2025 survey that showed public awareness about the fourth impeachment case filed against Duterte, before being interviewed, was at 59%. In September 2025, meanwhile, 45% were aware that the Supreme Court had nullified the fourth impeachment case as unconstitutional. It was in March 2026, 43% were aware that the third and fourth impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte were declared sufficient in evidence. High awareness in all areas; awareness rises with education Awareness of the impeachment case against the Vice President, before the interview, was highest in Metro Manila at 79%, followed by Mindanao at 77%, Balance Luzon at 74% and the Visayas at 69%. The SWS showed that awareness of the case rose with education as it was highest among college graduates at 93%, followed by those with some senior high school up to some college at 78%, junior high school graduates at 77%, elementary graduates at 69%, and non-elementary graduates at 56%. Survey background The Second Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey was conducted from June 20 to 29, 2026, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao. The sampling error margins are ±3% for national percentages and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. To obtain the national estimates, the area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2026. Vice President must address the charges The SWS showed the net agreement that Vice Pres. Duterte must address the impeachment charges rises in all areas except in Metro Manila. "As of June 2026, net agreement that Vice Pres. Duterte must address the impeachment charges was highest in the Visayas at +58, followed by Balance Luzon at +56, Metro Manila at +49, and Mindanao at +42," the survey showed. Compared to March 2026, the figure rose by 15 points from +43 in the Visayas, by 5 points from +37 in Mindanao, and by 4 points from +52 in Balance Luzon. However, it fell by 7 points from +56 in Metro Manila. The impeachment complaints alleged that the Vice President betrayed public trust through several acts, including her alleged misuse of P612 million worth of confidential funds, dereliction of official duty due to her willful refusal to recognize congressional oversight during budget deliberations, her alleged threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family, her alleged unexplained wealth and failure to disclose all her properties and interests in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth. A higher net satisfaction rating for Duterte was shown to be among those who do not believe she should address the impeachment case. The June 2026 survey found 58% satisfied, 15% undecided and 26% dissatisfied with the performance of Vice-President Sara Duterte, for a net satisfaction rating of good +31. The Vice President’s net satisfaction rating was very good +61 among those who disagreed that “Vice-Pres. Sara Duterte must address the impeachment charges to be able to answer ALL allegations pertaining to the corruption charges filed against her,” compared to good +39 among those who were undecided, and moderate +22 among those who agreed. Socio-demographic characteristics of respondents At least 13% of the respondents are from Metro Manila, 45% from Balance Luzon, 19% from the Visayas, and 23% from Mindanao. Forty-nine percent are from urban areas, and 51% are from rural areas. Male and female respondents have a 1-to-1 ratio and, thus, are alternately sampled. By age group, 19% are youth (18-24), 25% are intermediate youth (25-34), 20% are middle-aged (35-44), 15% are 45 to 54 years old, and 21% are 55 years old and above. By education, 12% had at most some elementary education, 26% either finished elementary or had some high school education, 25% either finished junior high school or completed vocational school, 26% either attended some senior high school, completed senior high school or vocational, or attended some college, and 11% either graduated from college or took post-graduate studies. — BAP, GMA News