A narrow majority of adult Filipinos are aware of the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte but do not closely follow the proceedings, according to a newly-established research firm on July 23.
Momentum Research, which considers itself a nonpartisan, “next-generation” public opinion research company, conducted its inaugural non-commissioned “National Momentum Survey” from July 13 to 16, using face-to-face and computer-assisted personal interviews among 1,438 respondents aged 18 years and above across the country.
The survey showed that 55.5% of respondents had heard about Duterte’s first week of trial but did not keep up with it, while 31.7% said they were not fully aware of the proceedings. Only 12.6% said they were aware of the impeachment trial and tracked it closely.
Asked if they understood how the impeachment trial is being conducted, a lack of close attention to the trial emerged as the top response, cited by 33.7% of Filipinos.
Among those who had been closely monitoring the proceedings, 32.2% of the respondents said the conduct of the trial was confusing, while 15.4% said it was generally clear but some parts were difficult to follow, and 7.8% noted that the trial was too technical and difficult to follow.
Only 7.2% said the trial was clear and easy to understand while the remaining 3.6% were either unsure or refused to answer.
“What the survey data tells us is that the public may be aware that the trial is happening, but the proceedings haven’t yet broken through in a way that feels meaningful or legible to the average Filipino. And awareness without comprehension may become a problem for any constitutional proceeding that depends on public legitimacy,” Momentum Research Founder and Chief Executive Officer Cleve Arguelles said in a statement.
A ‘wake-up call’ to impeachment court
Despite the high awareness but low engagement in Duterte’s impeachment trial, the Momentum survey results also show that 36.8% of respondents want public opinion to be the basis of whether senator-judges should convict or acquit the vice president.
It is only 0.5% higher compared to the actual weight of evidence presented during the proceedings, the second most preferred basis for the senator-judges’ decisions.
Arguelles said in a July 23 press briefing that the survey findings should be a “wake-up call” to the Senate impeachment court to address what he described as the public’s “call for help.”
“Bukod sa napapanood natin nang live ‘yung impeachment court, ano pa ba ‘yung maaaring gawin para mapalapit ‘yung usapin ng paglilitis sa ating mga ordinaryong Pilipino?” Arguelles asked.
For his part, Dr. Gary Ador Dioniso, chairman of Momentum Research, proposed translating impeachment proceedings into local languages such as Bisaya and Ilocano to help Filipinos better relate to the evidence instead of relying on public opinion.
“They are discouraged not to listen because it’s becoming more legalistic, in a sense, alienating. May mga pagkakataon pa nga na na-co-confuse na ‘yung mga tao. Kaya parang tingin nila, ‘sige, [kung] ano na lang ‘yung magiging opinion,'” Dionisio added.
In an interview with ANC 24/7, Historian Manolo Quezon called Duterte’s impeachment trial “the most legalistic” proceeding when compared to the trials of former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada and former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
‘VP Sara should personally face trial’
Meanwhile, Filipinos are split on whether the Senate impeachment court will be fair and impartial in Duterte’s trial, with 49.3% saying they trust the constitutional body and 42.3% expressing distrust.
The poll also show that 43.8% of respondents said it is too early to determine if the vice president should be convicted or acquitted.
As the impeachment trial enters its fourth week when it resumes on July 29, 83.3% or about 8 in 10 Filipinos believe that Duterte should personally appear during the proceedings to explain her side on the allegations against her, including misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and grave threats.
While the public may still be patient since the survey was conducted during the trial’s first week, Arguelles warned that patience could eventually wear thin if Duterte remains absent even after two or three months.
“Magpapatuloy po kami na mag-me-measure ng pagtingin ng ating mga kababayan on the impeachment trial as the proceedings continue in the coming weeks,” Arguelles said.
The July 2026 poll, which had a ±2.6% margin of error at a 95% confidence level, marks Momentum’s first wave of its flagship national survey. It gauged Filipinos’ opinion on key issues including Duterte’s continuing impeachment trial, government performance, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address, and prospective preferences for the 2028 national elections.
Arguelles said that the firm’s nationwide, “nationally representative” poll will be initially conducted and released every month before transitioning to a quarterly frequency.
