More Filipinos expect Sara Duterte conviction, survey says

VP Sara Duterte FB page More Filipinos expect Vice President Sara Duterte to be convicted rather than acquitted in her impeachment trial, according to a new nationwide survey by PUBLiCUS Asia, as the prosecution moves to pursue a conviction based on allegations of unexplained wealth and undeclared assets.

The PAHAYAG Third Quarter 2026 survey, conducted from Oct. 1 to 4, found that 44% of registered Filipino voters anticipate Duterte’s conviction, compared with 31% who expect her acquittal, a 13-percentage-point gap.

Another 25% remained undecided about the outcome.

The PUBLiCUS Asia survey also showed that public attention to Duterte’s impeachment remains high, with 65% of respondents expressing strong interest in following the trial.

The survey also provided a measure of public reaction to the prosecution’s presentation of financial documents, government records, and witness testimonies during nearly four months of impeachment proceedings.

Between 44% and 46% of respondents considered the prosecution’s evidence and witness testimonies sufficient, compared with 38% to 40% who believed additional evidence was necessary.

Similarly, 45% to 47% reported being convinced by the evidence presented so far, while 37% to 38% remained unconvinced.

The poll, conducted with 1,581 registered Filipino voters, preceded the prosecution’s decision to consolidate the impeachment case around unexplained wealth.

The Senate impeachment court on Oct. 13 allowed the House prosecution panel to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles against Duterte, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

The remaining Article II accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, failing to disclose assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and failing to divest business interests, according to the Inquirer.

The prosecution has maintained that the financial evidence already presented is sufficient to establish constitutional violations and betrayal of public trust.

House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro earlier told the impeachment court that the prosecution considers its evidence substantial and compelling enough to warrant Duterte’s removal from office.

At the center of the remaining impeachment charge is the financial examination conducted by forensic analyst and lawyer Alexander Cabrera, who identified approximately PHP 817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.

Cabrera was the prosecution’s final witness on Article II, the Inquirer reported.

Cabrera testified that the amount was a conservative estimate and that the figure could reach approximately PHP 1.5 billion under a broader accounting analysis.

His findings drew on financial records, tax documents, corporate filings, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, raising questions about the consistency between the couple’s declared wealth and their 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 effort to establish the sources and extent of the couple’s wealth.

For the prosecution, the central issue is whether Duterte fully and truthfully disclosed her assets and financial interests, and whether her reported wealth can be reconciled with her legitimate sources of income.