Survey: 45% Filipinos reject VP impeachment; 35% skeptical of Senate
MANILA, Philippines — At least 45 percent of the country’s electorate are not in favor of the filing of an impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, Pulse Asia’s latest poll released on Friday showed.
In Pulse Asia Research’s February 2025 Pulso ng Bayan pre-electoral survey, the polling body asked respondents whether they agreed or disagreed with the filing of an impeachment case against Duterte.
Forty-five percent of respondents answered that they disagree with the House of Representatives’ move, while the rest of Filipino registered voters, comprising 26 percent of the respondents, expressed ambivalence on the matter.
Only 7 percent of them could not state an opinion about the matter due to a lack of knowledge.
Graphics from Pulse Asia
A quick look at the survey would show that “big pluralities to an overwhelming majority” in the Visayas (46 percent) and Mindanao (88 percent) disagree with what the House of Representatives did.
In the same poll, Pulse likewise asked respondents whether or not they believe that the Senate will be fair as a court once it begins the trial.
Thirty-five percent of Filipino registered voters, or less than the majority of respondents, believe that the Senate will not be fair when it hears the impeachment case.
From Pulse Asia
“Thirty-three percent are ambivalent on the matter [while] about a fifth of the electorate [or] 21 percent believes that the Senate will be fair when it convenes as an impeachment court for the purpose of hearing the Vice President’s impeachment case,” said Pulse.
“As may be expected, most registered voters in Mindanao (66 percent) believe the Senate will not be fair as an impeachment court. A big plurality of registered voters in Metro Manila (40 percent) believe otherwise, while indecision is the plurality sentiment in the rest of Luzon,” it added.
Pulse said “practically all” registered voters in the country — or at least 92 percent — have heard, read or watched something about the impeachment of the Vice President by the lower chamber.
Image from Pulse Asia
READ: Sara Duterte impeached; House gets 215 to sign
The lower chamber, in a historic move on Feb. 5, impeached Duterte, garnering over 200 signatures from lawmakers.
On the same day, the articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate, but the upper chamber adjourned its session without tackling the document.
READ: VP Sara Duterte impeachment complaint reaches Senate
To date, the document remains pending before the upper chamber, with Senate President Chiz Escudero saying that the actual trial would only start after President Bongbong Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address in July.
READ: Escudero bares proposed calendar of Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Below is the proposed timeline of the impeachment proceedings against Duterte as previously announced by the Senate chief:
June 2 – Resumption of session and presentation of articles of impeachment
June 3 – Convening of impeachment court and oathtaking of incumbent senator-judges
June 4 – Issuance of summons
June 14 to 24 – Reception of pleadings
June 24 to July 25 – Pre-trial
July 28 – Inaugural session of the Senate of the 20th Congress
July 29 – Oathtaking of newly-elected senator-judges before sitting as an impeachment court
July 30 – Start of trial
