A recent survey conducted by the Philippine Public Opinion Monitor has revealed that over four in ten Filipinos believe public opinion should be the primary factor guiding Congress in voting on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. The March 2026 poll, which surveyed 1,455 respondents nationwide, found that 42% of Filipinos think that public sentiment should be the sole basis for lawmakers when deciding on the impeachment.
Key Findings on Impeachment Voting Factors
The survey asked respondents what factors they believe Congress representatives should consider when voting on the impeachment of the Vice President. In addition to the 42% who cited public opinion, 29% of Filipinos said that the strength or weakness of the evidence presented should be the determining factor. A smaller portion of the population believes that Congressmen should vote according to their own conscience as legislators (9%) or according to the stance of their political allies (9%). Meanwhile, 11% of respondents refused to answer the question.
Regional Variations in Opinion
The survey also highlighted significant regional differences in how Filipinos view the impeachment process. In Metro Manila, 42% of respondents believe that the strength or weakness of evidence should be the primary basis for voting, followed by public opinion (26%) and conscience (15%). In contrast, residents of the Rest of Luzon (45%), Visayas (42%), and Mindanao (44%) overwhelmingly identified public opinion as the most important factor.
In the Rest of Luzon, after public opinion, 29% cited evidence strength and 9% cited conscience as key factors. In the Visayas, 26% pointed to evidence strength and 14% to political allies' stance. Mindanao respondents showed the lowest proportion (24%) favoring evidence strength as a basis for voting.
Survey Methodology
The March 2026 nationwide survey was conducted from March 10 to 17 through face-to-face interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,455 Filipinos residing in the Philippines. The survey has a margin of error of ±3% at the national level, with a 95% confidence level. At the subnational level, the margin of error is ±7% for the National Capital Region, ±4% for the rest of Luzon, ±6% for the Visayas, and ±6% for Mindanao, all at the same 95% confidence level.
