69% OF FILIPINOS SUPPORT IMPEACHMENT TRIAL AGAINST VP DUTERTE – OCTA SURVEY

PHOTO: OCTAResearch

Nearly seven in ten Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte should face an impeachment trial to address various allegations of misconduct, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey by OCTA Research released on April 15, 2026.

The survey, conducted from March 19 to 25, 2026, reflects widespread public demand for accountability as the House Committee on Justice continues its landmark hearings on the two remaining impeachment complaints.

Overview of Survey Results

National sentiment shows strong support for the legal process, even among some who may not yet have found the Vice President guilty.

Support for Trial: 69% of Filipino adults favor a Senate trial.

Opposition: 28% oppose the trials.

Undecided: 3% of the population remains undecided.

Demographic Highlights:

By Region: Support is highest in the Visayas (83%) and Metro Manila (81%). In his traditional stronghold of Mindanao, 61% still support the trial, while opposition is highest there at 38%.

By Class: Support is broadly consistent across all socioeconomic brackets, peaking in Class D (72%) and Class ABC (71%).

By Age: Younger Filipinos aged 18–24 showed the strongest support at 77%.

The Grounds of Impeachment

The House Committee on Justice ruled the current complaints "sufficiently substantiated" on March 4, 2026, allowing the case to move forward. The main allegations raised in the current proceedings include:

Misappropriation of Funds: Alleged theft of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds within the OVP and DepEd, including ₱125 million that was spent in just 11 days.

Corruption and Bribery: Allegations that DepEd officials received monthly envelopes of money (approximately ₱50,000) during his tenure as Secretary.

Death Threats: Public statements about a "contract killer" targeting President Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and the Speaker of the House.

Unexplained Wealth: Allegations of failure to declare over ₱2 billion in bank transactions that are grossly disproportionate to his official salary.

Latest Hearing Updates

In its most recent hearing on April 14, 2026, the House Committee on Justice heard damning testimony from Ramil Madriaga, a former aide who claims he was ordered to deliver large sums of money to the Vice President.

OCTA Research noted that many Filipinos view the impeachment trial not only as a punitive measure, but as a clear mechanism for resolving and proving these serious allegations.

Survey Methodology:

This uncommissioned study involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents nationwide. It has a ±3% margin of error at the national level with a 95% confidence level.