MANILA, Philippines — Seven in 10 adult Filipinos believe senators should decide on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte based on the law and evidence presented during the trial rather than political considerations, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa survey released by OCTA Research on Friday.
The nationwide survey found that 71 percent of respondents said senators should be guided by the law and evidence, while 21 percent said political considerations should matter most. Seven percent were undecided, while 1 percent declined to answer.
OCTA said the survey was intended to measure public expectations on how senators should decide the impeachment case, not whether Vice President Duterte should be convicted or acquitted. It said the findings reflected how Filipinos viewed the integrity and fairness of the impeachment process.
Support for an evidence-based decision was recorded across all major geographic areas and socioeconomic classes, with 77 percent in the National Capital Region and 76 percent in Balance Luzon saying the Senate should rely on law and evidence. The figure stood at 63 percent in the Visayas and 62 percent in Mindanao.
By socioeconomic class, 73 percent of respondents from Class ABC, 72 percent from Class D, and 65 percent from Class E favored decisions based on law and evidence.
The preference also remained consistent across age groups, gender, educational attainment and urban-rural areas, with majorities in each group saying senators should base their votes on the law and evidence rather than politics.
OCTA said the findings establish a baseline for measuring public opinion as the impeachment trial progresses, noting that the survey was conducted during the opening phase of the Senate proceedings before evidence had been fully presented. It added that the results suggest Filipinos place importance not only on the verdict but also on whether the proceedings are conducted fairly and in accordance with due process.
The survey was conducted from July 4 to 11 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide. It has a margin of error of ±3 percentage points at the 95-percent confidence level.
