Most Pinoys say VP Sara should address impeachment charges — SWS

Most Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte should collaborate with other leaders to prioritize the nation’s needs and respond directly to the impeachment charges filed against her, according to the latest Stratbase-SWS national survey.

The May 2–6 survey, conducted face-to-face with 1,800 registered voters nationwide, found that 74% of respondents said Duterte should definitely work collaboratively to address national priorities. An additional 19% said she probably should, while only 4% expressed opposition.

When asked about how she should respond to her ongoing impeachment case, 68% said she should definitely address the allegations of corruption and clear her name, while 20% said she probably should. Just 7% said she probably or definitely should not.

Impeachment trial postponed

The survey comes amid Senate preparations for her impeachment trial. The presentation of the case — originally set for 2 June — has been postponed to 11 June to allow the Senate to act on urgent legislative matters before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the Senate and House of Representatives must prioritize key measures, including amendments to the Universal Health Care Act and the passage of the Anti-POGO Act, before convening as an impeachment court.

Duterte was impeached by the House on 5 February 2025, with 215 lawmakers voting in favor. Her trial in the Senate is expected to begin shortly after the plenary presentation, where at least 16 of 24 senators must vote to convict for her to be removed from office.

The survey also showed that 61% of respondents want Duterte to focus on implementing her own platform and policies, while 59% said she should stop politicizing her vice-presidential role. Half of respondents (50%) said she should stop criticizing the government and its initiatives.

At the time of the survey, Duterte was in The Hague with her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Senator Imee Marcos, visiting her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained at the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity.