7 in 10 Pinoys back Sara impeachment trial – OCTA

MANILA, Philippines —  Almost seven in 10 Filipinos support the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in order for her to address the allegations against her, a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group showed.

The survey, conducted from March 19 to 25, showed that 69 percent of the respondents believe that the Vice President should face trial at the Senate.

Twenty-eight percent opposed the trial, while three percent were undecided.

Across areas, agreement that Duterte should face trial was highest among respondents in the Visayas (83 percent) and Metro Manila (81 percent).

There was also majority support among those in the rest of Luzon (69 percent) and Duterte’s bailiwick Mindanao (61 percent).

Those opposing the impeachment trial are highest among those in Mindanao (38 percent), followed by those in balance Luzon (27 percent), Metro Manila (17 percent) and the Visayas (13 percent).

A majority of respondents across gender, age groups and educational attainment also support a trial.

“The finding that a majority of Filipinos support an impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte underscores broad public backing for impeachment as a mechanism for accountability and due process,” OCTA said in its analysis of results.

“Overall, the results may suggest a public that is not only highly aware of the issue, but also inclined to favor formal, rules-based mechanisms in resolving political controversies,” it added.

It also noted that support among some of Duterte’s supporters underscores that the trial is “an opportunity to address and respond to the allegations through a formal and transparent proceeding.”

“In this sense, the impeachment process may be viewed not solely as punitive, but also as a mechanism for validation and resolution,” OCTA added.

The survey results were released a day after Ramil Madriaga, who claims to be Duterte’s former bagman, appeared during the clarificatory hearing of the House committee on justice on Tuesday.

OCTA’s Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent.

Meanwhile, Duterte remains the most preferred candidate for president in 2028, but her gap against her predecessor and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo has already “narrowed” in the first quarter of the year, OCTA Research group founder Ranjit Rye said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Rye said they would release in the coming week the results of their preference survey for the 2028 elections.