More Filipinos expect Vice President Sara Duterte to be convicted rather than acquitted in her ongoing impeachment trial, according to a nationwide survey conducted by PUBLiCUS Asia. However, one in four voters remain undecided on the possible outcome.
Results of the PAHAYAG Third Quarter 2026 survey, conducted from Oct. 1 to 4 among 1,581 registered voters, showed that 44 percent expect Duterte to be convicted, while 31 percent anticipate her acquittal. Another 25 percent said they were undecided.
The survey also found that public interest in the impeachment proceedings remains high, with 65 percent of respondents saying they are interested in following the trial.
PUBLiCUS reported that overall assessments of the prosecution’s case were slightly favorable. Between 44 and 46 percent of respondents considered the evidence and witness testimonies presented by prosecutors sufficient, while 38 to 40 percent said additional evidence was still needed.
Similarly, 45 to 47 percent said they were convinced by the evidence presented so far, compared with 37 to 38 percent who remained unconvinced.
The survey was conducted before prosecutors announced their decision to focus the impeachment case on allegations of unexplained wealth and undeclared assets.
According to the prosecution, the financial evidence already submitted before the impeachment court is sufficient to establish constitutional violations and betrayal of public trust.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro earlier said the prosecution believes its evidence is substantial enough to secure Duterte’s removal from office.
Central to the remaining impeachment charge are findings presented by forensic analyst Atty. Alexander Cabrera, who testified that approximately P817.87 million in wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, could not be fully explained based on available financial records.
Cabrera told the impeachment court that the amount represented a conservative estimate and could reach about P1.5 billion under a broader accounting analysis.
His findings were based on financial records, tax documents, corporate filings and Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), which prosecutors said raised questions about the consistency between the couple’s declared wealth and reported financial transactions.
The prosecution also presented financial information obtained from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and banking institutions as part of its efforts to establish the sources and extent of the couple’s wealth.
Prosecutors maintain that the key issue is whether Duterte fully and truthfully disclosed her assets and financial interests and whether her reported wealth is consistent with her legitimate sources of income.
The PUBLiCUS survey likewise found that four in 10 voters said they would vote to convict Duterte on all allegations if they were senator-judges. In contrast, three in 10 said they would vote to acquit, while another three in 10 said they would abstain or were undecided. ||
