More Pinoys want public opinion, not evidence, to be basis of Sara impeachment

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May 8, 2026 | 2:37pm

MANILA, Philippines — More Filipinos believe lawmakers' upcoming impeachment vote for Vice President Sara Duterte should be based on public opinion rather than the strength of the evidence against her, according to a new survey.

The poll by research firm WR Numero, shared Friday, May 8, found at least four in 10 Filipinos saying lawmakers must vote according to what the majority of Filipinos want. This is higher than the three in 10 who said it must be based on the actual pieces of evidence against the vice president.

WR Numero conducted the survey from March 10 to 17 through face-to-face interviews with 1,455 respondents nationwide. 

Meanwhile, just less than one in 10 said Congress' votes must be based on their "own personal conscience," while the same said they must base their vote on their political allies. 

Around one in 10 surveyed declined to answer.

Metro Manila appears to be the only area where people want evidence to be the main driver of the impeachment vote. 

In the National Capital Region, 42% of respondents say evidence must guide congressmen. But the rest of the country leaned the otehr way: public opinion topped the list of those in Luzon (45%,) Visayas (42%) and Mindanao (44%). 

Rep. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro), a member of the House justice committee, told reporters on Thursday that around 215 lawmakers have signaled support for the impeachment. This is well above the 106 votes, or one-third of the chamber, required by the Constitution to send the impeachment complaint to the Senate. 

The figure also matches the tally from last year's first impeachment of the vice president.