Public disbelief grows over assassination threat allegation against Sara Duterte

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 29, 2026

A screengrab from Vice President Sara Duterte’s online press conference in November 2024

Fewer Filipinos now believe the allegation that Vice President Sara Duterte threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed, according to a nationwide survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The September 2026 survey found that only 23 percent of adult Filipinos believed the accusation, while 44 percent said they did not believe it. This placed the allegation’s net belief score at minus 21, a significant shift from December 2024, when more respondents believed the claim than rejected it.

At the time, 36 percent said they believed the accusation, compared with 31 percent who did not, giving it a net belief score of plus 5.

The findings reflect public perceptions of the allegation and do not establish whether it is true or false.

The SWS survey also found that disbelief exceeded belief across all four accusations included in Duterte’s impeachment case. On the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, 29 percent believed the accusation and 38 percent did not. For alleged unexplained wealth, 25 percent believed the claim while 38 percent rejected it. On the alleged bribery of Department of Education officials, 27 percent believed the accusation and 39 percent did not.

Despite the skepticism reflected in the results, respondents expressed strong support for Duterte personally addressing the allegations before the Senate impeachment court. Seventy-eight percent said it was important for her to testify, including 59 percent who considered it definitely important and 19 percent who said it was somewhat important.

The survey also measured public views on how the impeachment proceedings were being handled. Thirty percent were satisfied with the prosecution’s conduct of the case, while 35 percent were dissatisfied, resulting in a net satisfaction score of minus 5. By comparison, 47 percent were satisfied with the performance of Duterte’s defense team, against 24 percent who were dissatisfied, giving the defense a net score of plus 23.

The survey was conducted from September 21 to 27, before the House prosecution dropped three of the four impeachment articles. The Senate impeachment court subsequently allowed the prosecution to discontinue Articles I, III, and IV, leaving the unexplained wealth allegation under Article II as the remaining charge.

The defense is scheduled to begin presenting its evidence when the trial resumes on November 9, 2026.

SWS conducted face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points for national estimates.