Philippine Senate Session Hall. Photo: Philippine News Agency via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Only 42 percent of adult Filipinos are following Vice President Sara Duterte’s Senate impeachment trial very or somewhat closely, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in a survey released on October 22, 2026. That is lower than the share who followed the impeachment trials of former President Joseph Estrada in 2001 and the late Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012, and the same survey found more Filipinos distrust the Senate to rule fairly than trust it.
The results come from the SWS Third Quarter 2026 Social Weather Survey (released October 22, 2026), fielded September 21 to 27 through face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 points for national figures.
How many Filipinos are actually watching the trial?
According to SWS, 15 percent followed the trial very closely and 28 percent somewhat closely. Another 21 percent followed it just a little, 27 percent did not follow it at all, and 9 percent only heard about the trial during the interview itself.
The 42 percent is below the 47 percent who followed the Estrada trial in January 2001, and the 52 percent and 54 percent who followed the Corona trial in March and May 2012, GMA News reported (October 22, 2026).
Do Filipinos trust the Senate to decide fairly?
Not as much as in past trials. SWS found 28 percent have much trust in the Senate impeachment court to make a fair decision, 35 percent have little trust and 32 percent are undecided, for a net trust score of -7, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported (October 23, 2026).
“In past impeachment cases, more had much trust than little trust in the Senate to make a fair decision,” SWS said. Net trust was +17 and +21 during the Estrada proceedings, and +11 and +21 during the Corona trial.
Half of respondents, 50 percent, said the trial gives the right consideration to both sides. About 18 percent said it is too lenient toward the Vice President’s lawyers, while 17 percent said prosecutors were given too much leeway.
Is the trial moving too slowly?
The most common view is yes. SWS found 39 percent think the trial is much too slow, 31 percent say it is moving at the right pace, and 22 percent say it is too much in a hurry.
“The view that the trial is much too slow was highest in Metro Manila at 49%, followed by Balance Luzon at 46%, the Visayas at 35%, and Mindanao at 24%,” SWS said. Mindanao, the Duterte family’s home region, was the least impatient with the pace.
Why does the timing of the survey matter?
The poll was taken before the case against the Vice President shrank. On October 13, the Senate impeachment court granted the House prosecution’s motion to drop three of the four articles: Article I on the alleged misuse of confidential funds, Article III on alleged bribery and procurement irregularities, and Article IV on alleged grave threats.
Only Article II remains, which alleges unexplained wealth, inaccurate Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and failure to divest business interests. The Vice President has denied wrongdoing, and none of the allegations has been proven. If you are new to the term, here is what a SALN is and why it matters in this case.
SWS said the defense begins presenting its evidence on November 9, 2026. For the full road ahead, see our Sara Duterte impeachment trial hub: what happens next.
How does this compare with other surveys?
The SWS numbers land days after an OCTA Research poll on the same trial. Read our report on OCTA’s finding that more Filipinos back acquittal than conviction.
The Duterte family is also facing a separate case abroad: former President Rodrigo Duterte’s ICC trial is set for November 30, and prosecutors recently dropped one killing from the case.
FAQ
What percentage of Filipinos follow Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial?
42 percent follow it very or somewhat closely, per SWS’s September 21-27, 2026 survey of 1,500 adults.
Do Filipinos trust the Senate impeachment court?
Net trust is -7: 28 percent have much trust, 35 percent little trust and 32 percent are undecided. In the Estrada and Corona trials, net trust was positive.
How many articles of impeachment are left?
One. The Senate allowed the prosecution to drop Articles I, III and IV on October 13, leaving only Article II on alleged unexplained wealth and SALN issues.
When does the defense present its evidence?
November 9, 2026, according to SWS.
Sources: Social Weather Stations media release (October 22, 2026), GMA News (October 22, 2026) and the Philippine Daily Inquirer (October 23, 2026). Photo: Philippine Senate Session Hall, Philippine News Agency via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
About the Author
