The recent national survey shows that most adult Filipinos were already aware of the fourth impeachment complaint filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, but public opinion remains divided over the issue.

The result of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, conducted from 25 to 29 June 2025, which was released on Tuesday found that 59 percent of respondents knew about the impeachment case prior to the interview, while 41 percent only learned about it during the survey interview. 

When asked if they supported the impeachment complaint, 32 percent agreed, 42 percent disagreed, and 18 percent were undecided, resulting in a net agreement score of –10 (agreement minus disagreement). 

The remaining 7 percent said they lacked sufficient knowledge to express an opinion.

The survey also revealed that 44 percent of Filipinos believe the Senate is “deliberately delaying” the start of the impeachment trial against Duterte. 

In contrast, 25 percent do not believe this is the case, while 22 percent remain undecided, resulting in a net belief score of +19.

Meanwhile, 9 percent said they did not have enough knowledge about the issue.

According to the survey, the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte was filed in December 2024 by various groups in the House of Representatives, citing allegations that include unexplained spending of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education; refusal to cooperate with investigations; unexplained “ill-gotten wealth” not accounted for in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN); alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings during her time as Mayor of Davao City;  and her controversial travel to Germany during Typhoon Carina. 

Duterte’s failure to condemn China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea; as well as the threats against the lives of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, were also mentioned in the fourth impeachment case. 

The fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte was signed by 215 of the 306 members of the House on 5 February and was transmitted to the Senate for the trial.

Regional Highlights

The survey shows that awareness of the impeachment case was highest in Metro Manila, where 68 percent of respondents knew about it before the interview, followed by the Visayas (64%), Balance Luzon (57%), and Mindanao (52%).

Further,  support for the impeachment complaint was strongest in Metro Manila, with a net agreement score of +12 (44% agree, 32% disagree), and Balance Luzon at +7. 

While, the opposition was highest in Mindanao, which recorded a net agreement score of –52 (13 percent agree, 65 percent disagree), followed by the Visayas with –18.

Respondents’ belief that the Senate is delaying the trial was most prevalent in Balance Luzon (+27 net belief), Metro Manila (+20), and the Visayas (+16). 

Mindanao showed a much smaller net belief score of +6.

Respondents’ socio-demographic profile 

The recent survey result, with responses weighted to reflect national census data, reveals a broad demographic spread among participants across the Philippines.

Geographically, 13 percent of respondents were from Metro Manila, while 45 percent hailed from the rest of Luzon. The Visayas accounted for 19 percent of the participants, and Mindanao represented 23 percent of the sample.

The survey achieved an even distribution between urban and rural areas, with 50 percent of respondents from each setting.

In terms of gender, the sample maintained a strict 1:1 male-to-female ratio, ensuring balanced representation through alternate sampling.

Respondents were also grouped by age: 12 percent were aged 18 to 24 (youth), 19% were between 25 and 34 (intermediate youth), 20 percent were 35 to 44 (middle-aged), 19 percent fell in the 45 to 54 range, and the largest group, 30 percent, were aged 55 and above.

Education levels varied, with 12 percent having some elementary education or less, 27 percent reporting either elementary completion or some high school education, and 28 percent having either finished junior high school or vocational school. Meanwhile, 21 percent attended some college, and 13 percent held college degrees or pursued post-graduate studies.

The results provide a comprehensive snapshot of the socio-demographic landscape represented in the survey.

Survey details

The SWS survey interviewed 1,200 adults nationwide, with 300 respondents each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. 

The sample was weighted to reflect national demographics, with respondents split evenly between urban and rural areas and between men and women. The age range and education levels of respondents varied, representing a broad cross-section of the Filipino population.

The SWS said its survey questions on the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte are non-commissioned and were included at SWS’ initiative and released as a public service.