MORE Filipino adults believe Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team is performing better than the prosecution in her impeachment trial, a noncommissioned survey released on Wednesday said.
The National Momentum Survey by Momentum Research found that 23.3 percent of respondents considered Duterte’s private lawyers to be doing a better job, compared with 15.2 percent who favored the performance of the prosecution team composed of House members and private lawyers.
However, 50.3 percent said they had not followed the impeachment trial, while 8.9 percent were unsure and 2.3 percent declined to answer.
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,487 Filipino adults nationwide from Aug. 18 to 23, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at a 95-percent confidence level.
At the time of the survey, the prosecution was presenting evidence and witness testimonies concerning Article II of the impeachment articles, which involves allegations of misuse of confidential funds.
The survey also found that nearly half of respondents were not yet ready to say whether Duterte should be convicted or acquitted.
Asked what the impeachment court should decide on allegations involving anomalous use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education employees, and an alleged attempt to increase pressure on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, 47.9 percent said it was too early to determine the outcome of the trial.
Still, 24.4 percent said Duterte should be convicted, while 16 percent said she should be acquitted. Another 8.4 percent were unsure and 3.3 percent declined to answer.
The survey showed marked differences by region.
Mindanao, Duterte’s political stronghold, was the only region where a larger share of respondents expressed a definite preference between the two sides, with 40 percent saying the defense was performing better.
In Mindanao, 36.5 percent said they had not followed the proceedings, while 13.2 percent were unsure and 4.1 percent declined to answer.
By comparison, 55.4 percent in Metro Manila, 55.5 percent in the rest of Luzon and 51.1 percent in Visayas said they had not followed the trial.
The prosecution was favored by 19.1 percent in Visayas, 18.9 percent in the rest of Luzon and 12.9 percent in Metro Manila, compared with 20.5 percent, 16.5 percent and 21.1 percent, respectively, who favored the defense.
The survey showed a sharp divide among political groups.
Among respondents identified as pro-Duterte, 44.1 percent said the defense was performing better, compared with 7.1 percent who favored the prosecution.
Among pro-Marcos respondents, 31.1 percent favored the prosecution and 22.1 percent the defense. Among pro-opposition respondents, 34.7 percent favored the prosecution and 10.5 percent the defense.
Independents were largely disengaged, with 59.5 percent saying they had not followed the trial. Among those who expressed a preference, 13.7 percent favored each side.
Across generations, Gen X respondents were the least likely to say they were following the proceedings, with 53.2 percent saying they had not followed the trial. Another 11.1 percent were unsure and 2.7 percent declined to answer.
Momentum Research said the findings suggest that public views could become more definite as the impeachment proceedings continue and more evidence and testimony are presented, although the level of public attention could also change.
The survey’s regional margins of error were plus or minus 6.9 percentage points for Metro Manila, 3.8 points for the rest of Luzon, 5.8 points for the Visayas and 5.5 points for Mindanao, all at a 95-percent confidence level.
