MANILA— More Filipinos expressed satisfaction with the defense of Vice President Sara Duterte than with the prosecution of her impeachment case, while a majority said she should personally testify and that the Senate’s final decision should be accepted, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The September 21 to 27, 2026 survey, released on October 28, found that 47% of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the manner in which Duterte’s lawyers were defending her, while 24% were dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction rating of +23.

In comparison, only 30% were satisfied with the prosecution of the impeachment case, while 35% were dissatisfied, giving the prosecution a net satisfaction score of -5.

The survey was conducted before the House prosecution dropped three of the four articles of impeachment against Duterte.

On October 13, the Senate impeachment court granted the prosecution’s motion to withdraw Articles I, III and IV, leaving only the charge concerning unexplained wealth. The defense is scheduled to present its evidence when the trial resumes on November 9.

SWS said the prosecution’s net satisfaction score was lower than those recorded during the impeachment trials of former President Joseph Estrada and former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

During Estrada’s trial, the prosecution received net satisfaction ratings of +19 in December 2000 and +21 in January 2001. The prosecution in Corona’s trial registered +39 in March 2012.

Meanwhile, net satisfaction with the defense was +25 and +38 during the two surveys conducted in Estrada’s trial, and +31 during Corona’s impeachment proceedings.

Most want Duterte to testify personally

The survey also found that 78% of respondents considered it important for Duterte to testify personally to answer and explain the allegations against her.

Of those surveyed, 59% said her personal testimony was definitely important, while 19% considered it somewhat important.

Only 15% said it was not important, while 8% were unable to give an opinion.

The result was comparable to public sentiment during previous impeachment trials. SWS recorded 78% and 79% who considered personal testimony important for Estrada in December 2000 and January 2001, respectively.

For Corona, the corresponding figures were 73% in March 2012 and 81% in May 2012.

On whether the Senate’s ruling should be respected regardless of whether Duterte is acquitted or convicted, 51% agreed, 26% disagreed and 24% were undecided.

This translated to a net agreement score of +25.

More respondents do not believe impeachment accusations

Across all four accusations against Duterte, more respondents said they did not believe the allegations than those who believed them.

On the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, 29% believed the accusation, while 38% did not.

For the allegation of unexplained wealth not fully declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, 25% believed it and 38% did not.

On the alleged bribery of DepEd officials in connection with procurement irregularities, 27% believed the accusation, compared with 39% who did not.

The allegation that Duterte threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated received the lowest level of belief: 23% believed it, while 44% did not.

SWS reported net belief scores ranging from -9 to -21 across the four allegations.

The net belief score for the assassination threat accusation also declined from +5 in December 2024, when 36% believed it and 31% did not, to -21 in September 2026.

The other three accusations were included in the survey for the first time in September 2026.

Regional differences in public sentiment

The prosecution received positive net satisfaction only in Balance Luzon, at +4. Its ratings were negative in Mindanao at -8, and in both the Visayas and Metro Manila at -15.

The defense, meanwhile, recorded its highest net satisfaction rating in Mindanao at +48, followed by the Visayas at +27, Balance Luzon at +14 and Metro Manila at +6.

Mindanao also registered the lowest net belief scores for each of the four accusations against Duterte.

Across regions, the proportion of respondents who said it was important for Duterte to testify personally ranged from 71% in Mindanao to 84% in Metro Manila.

The survey further found that net agreement with accepting the Senate’s decision was highest in Balance Luzon at +33 and lowest in Mindanao at +11.

Duterte’s performance ratings vary by respondents’ views

SWS also examined how respondents’ views on the impeachment accusations related to their assessment of Duterte’s performance.

In the same September survey, the Vice President received a net satisfaction rating of +21, classified by SWS as moderate, with 51% satisfied and 30% dissatisfied.

However, her net satisfaction rating was negative among respondents who believed the accusations against her. It stood at -17 among those who believed the misuse of confidential funds allegation, -7 among those who believed the unexplained wealth accusation, -11 among those who believed the bribery allegation and -16 among those who believed the assassination threat accusation.

Among respondents who did not believe the respective allegations, her net satisfaction ratings ranged from +39 to +46.

The survey covered 1,500 adults aged 18 and above nationwide through face-to-face interviews conducted from September 21 to 27.

Of the respondents, 600 were from Balance Luzon, while 300 each were from Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao. The sampling error margins were ±3 percentage points for national estimates, ±4 points for Balance Luzon and ±6 points for each of the other three areas.

SWS said the survey questions were non-commissioned and conducted on its own initiative as a public service.