Only 1 in 10 Filipinos Actively Follow VP Sara's Impeachment Trial: Study

A newly established public opinion research firm, Momentum Research, has found that while 68% of Filipinos are aware of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, only 13%, or one in every 10 individuals, are actively monitoring it. A majority of respondents, 55%, stated they hear about the proceedings but do not actively follow them, while 29% reported not monitoring the trial at all. 3% did not answer. Regarding the trial's complexity, 32% described it as confusing, and 8% found it too technical and difficult to follow. Fifteen percent indicated that while parts of the trial are clear, some aspects are complicated. Only 7% found the entire proceedings "clear and easy to follow." A significant portion, 34%, admitted to not monitoring the impeachment trial's first week. Cleve Arguelles, founder of Momentum Research, attributed the public's confusion to the frequent use of legal jargon and the technical arguments presented by prosecutors, defense counsel, and senator-judges during the trial's initial week. "What the survey data tells us is that the public may be aware that the trial is happening, but the proceedings haven’t yet broken through in a way that feels meaningful or legible to the average Filipino," Arguelles said. The survey also assessed Filipinos' trust in the Senate impeachment court. 36.6% of respondents expressed trust in the institution's fairness and neutrality, with an additional 12.2% indicating extreme trust. Conversely, 35.5% of respondents conveyed distrust, and 6.8% expressed extreme distrust. Around 6.2% remained unsure, and 2.8% declined to answer. In terms of perceived fairness, 37.5% believed the Senate impeachment court had been fair during its first week, while 31.2% held the opposite view. Furthermore, the study revealed a public desire for Vice President Duterte to appear personally at her trial. 44.3% of respondents considered her appearance "extremely important," 39% deemed it "important," and only 10.6% indicated otherwise. Arguelles noted that public opinion on the trial is "still in motion," with Filipinos forming their views as the proceedings unfold. "But the trial is only weeks old. Public opinion at this stage is more of a snapshot than a verdict, and it’s still likely to move as the evidence does," he added. The survey, part of Momentum Research's National Momentum Survey, interviewed 1,438 Filipinos nationwide from July 13 to 16, one week after the Senate impeachment court commenced. The survey has a ±2.6% national margin of error at the 95% confidence level. Overall, the findings suggest that awareness of the trial does not necessarily translate into active engagement among Filipinos.