By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
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 House prosecution team moves to pursue a conviction based on allegations of unexplained wealth and undeclared assets.
The PAHAYAG Third Quarter 2026 survey, conducted Oct. 1-4, found that 44% of registered Filipino voters expect Duterte to be convicted, while 31% anticipate her acquittal, a 13-percentage-point gap. The remaining 25% were undecided.
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 percent said the evidence presented so far convinced them, 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 plot thickens
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 P817.87 million in allegedly unexplained wealth involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio.
Cabrera testified that the amount was a conservative estimate and that the figure could reach approximately P1.5 billion under a broader accounting analysis.
His findings drew on financial records, tax documents, corporate filings, and Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), 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 (AMLC), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), 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 VP Duterte fully and truthfully disclosed her assets and financial interests, and whether her reported wealth can be reconciled with her legitimate sources of income.
