OCTA: 81% of Pinoys skeptical, yet to judge fairness of Sara Duterte impeachment trial

A large majority of Filipino adults are either skeptical or withholding judgment on the impartiality of the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the latest survey by OCTA Research showed.

The new Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey showed that only 19% of respondents believe that senators would rule on Duterte's impeachment case based on evidence and the law rather than political considerations.

On the other hand, 32% of Filipinos do not believe this will happen, while nearly half or 49% remain undecided on the matter.

"These findings indicate that more than four out of five Filipinos or 81% either doubt that senators would decide primarily on the basis of evidence and the law or have yet to form a definitive judgment on the matter," OCTA said.

"These results suggest that, even before the trial commenced, many Filipinos were reserving judgment regarding how senators would ultimately discharge their constitutional responsibilities as members of an impeachment court," it added.

The TNM survey was conducted from April 20 to April 24—a month ahead of the Senate leadership shakeup and the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court. It was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 Filipinos aged 18 years old and above. It has a margin of error of ±3 % at a 95% confidence level.

Skepticism in the south

The TNM survey results also indicated that skepticism is most pronounced in Mindanao, while uncertainty is highest in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon.

Across socioeconomic classes, Class E respondents are more likely than other groups to believe that senators would decide primarily on the basis of evidence and the law, while Class ABC respondents exhibit the highest levels of uncertainty.

"The survey suggests that public acceptance of the impeachment process may depend not only on the verdict ultimately reached by the Senate but also on whether the proceedings themselves are perceived as fair, impartial, transparent, and grounded in evidence and due process," the survey said.

"In this regard, the findings point to the importance of procedural legitimacy and public confidence in the Senate's discharge of its constitutional role as an impeachment court," it added.

OCTA Research clarified that the survey should be "viewed as a baseline measure of public perceptions rather than fixed opinions" as it was conducted before the trial commenced and during the Senate Presidency of Senator Vicente Sotto III.

"Public attitudes may evolve as evidence is presented, deliberations occur, and the broader political and institutional dynamics surrounding the impeachment process develop," it said.

Duterte is facing impeachment charges over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes. In May, she was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time.

On May 18, the Senate convened as an impeachment court. On June 1, the Duterte camp filed its answer to the Articles of Impeachment against her, formally asking the court to junk the impeachment case endorsed by the House of Representatives.

The pre-trial conference for Duterte's impeachment trial formally commenced on Thursday, June 18. — VDV, GMA News