A strong majority of Filipinos want the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to push through, reflecting broad public demand for the allegations against her to be heard before the Senate impeachment court, according to a political analyst.
Prof. Cleve Arguelles, president and CEO of WR Numero Research, said survey results from WR Numero and OCTA showed that public support for holding the trial was already high even before the House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
“One is that it’s very clear whether with us at WR Numero or for example in OCTA Survey, we’ve seen the results that there is an overwhelming number of Filipinos,” Arguelles said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
He said the surveys showed that between 70 and 80 percent of Filipinos want the impeachment trial to proceed.
“Between 70 percent, if you look at OCTA, for WR Numero, 80. So between 7 to 8 out of 10 Filipinos are demanding that the impeachment trial should happen,” he added.
Arguelles said the support cuts across economic classes, age groups, and regions. He noted that even in Mindanao, considered the Duterte family’s political stronghold, 61 percent of respondents said they wanted the trial to continue.
“This is across classes, whether the poorest or the richest among us. This is also across different age groups, so young and old, but most importantly, across regions as well,” he said.
“So you’d also be surprised that even in Mindanao, 61 percent, so that’s 6 in 10 Mindanaoans, saying that they want the impeachment trial to proceed,” he added.
Arguelles clarified that the survey measured public support for conducting the trial, not whether respondents wanted Duterte convicted or acquitted.
“So it’s a different question whether they want the Vice President to be acquitted or convicted, but at this point, the public opinion is clear that they want the impeachment trial to proceed,” he said.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte includes allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against the country’s top officials.
The findings come as the House prosecution team prepares for the next stages of the proceedings before the Senate impeachment court. Prosecutors have already been assigned to specific Articles of Impeachment, while the panel awaits the formal answer of Duterte’s defense team.
Arguelles, however, warned of a significant information gap among the public regarding the evidence and accusations in the case.
“About half, 50 percent of our fellow citizens, are saying that their knowledge is lacking tungkol sa ebidensya at alegasyon laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte,” he said.
He said the Senate trial may play a crucial role in shaping public understanding of the case, particularly as evidence and witnesses are presented.
“So I think ito ‘yung babantayan sa Senate impeachment court whether ‘yung public understanding ba ng evidence, public understanding ng mga allegations laban sa kanya, whether that will change,” he added.
Arguelles described the information gap as alarming, saying many Filipinos still feel they do not have enough knowledge about the impeachment case.
“But right now, alarmingly, marami pong mga kababayan natin ang nagsasabi na hindi sapat ‘yung kanilang kaalaman at impormasyon sa ebidensya kaugnay po ng impeachment,” he said.
The Senate impeachment court is expected to determine the pace of the proceedings after the required pleadings are submitted, including the defense’s answer and the prosecution’s response.