Nearly half of Filipinos reject Sara Duterte’s impeachment — Pulse Asia

Nearly half or at least 45 percent of the country’s electorates do not favor the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to the latest non-commission survey by Pulse Asia released on Friday.

Based on the polling firm’s survey conducted from 20-26 February, only 26 percent of voters nationwide agree with the impeachment move, while 23 percent say they cannot decide whether they agree or disagree on the matter. Another 7 percent say they don’t have enough knowledge to give an opinion.

Respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the filing of an impeachment case against Duterte.

The survey showed a “big plurality to an overwhelming majority” in the Visayas (46 percent) and Mindanao (88 percent) disagree with what the House of Representatives did. These regions, known to have voted heavily for Duterte in the 2022 elections, delivered significant support. Duterte, a former mayor of Davao City, received 32.2 million votes — the most ever cast for a candidate in the country — surpassing even her running mate, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who got 31.6 million votes.

In the rest of Luzon, 34 percent of voters agree with the impeachment move, while 24 percent oppose it, mirroring those who either agree or disagree. The remaining 8 percent are undecided.

At least 45 percent of respondents in Metro Manila express support for Duterte’s impeachment, while 33 percent disagree. About 18 percent say they cannot decide, and 5 percent say they have no opinion due to insufficient knowledge.

‘Senate fair?'

In the same survey, respondents were asked whether they believe the Senate will be fair or unfair as a court that will hear the impeachment case against the vice president. Survey results indicate equal proportions of registered voters either believe the Senate will not be fair (35 percent) or are undecided (33 percent).

While 35 percent of Filipino registered voters believe the Senate will not be fair when it hears the impeachment case against the Vice President, 33 percent remain ambivalent. About 21 percent believe the Senate will be fair once it convenes as an impeachment court, and 11 percent say they lack sufficient knowledge to give an opinion.

Most respondents in Mindanao (66 percent) believe the Senate will not be fair as an impeachment court. A “big plurality” in Metro Manila (40 percent) believes otherwise, while indecision is the plurality sentiment in the rest of Luzon (40 percent). Virtually the same percentages of Visayans and registered voters across socioeconomic classes either believe the Senate will not be fair or are ambivalent on the matter (33 percent to 38 percent versus 32 percent to 42 percent).

On 5 February, 215 lawmakers, or more than two-thirds of the House members, supported the resolution to impeach Duterte. The Senate has yet to tackle the impeachment case, with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero stating it would convene as an impeachment court on 30 July despite calls to act sooner on the complaints.