Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Date:  July 7, 2026
Location:   Pasay City
Philippines:   Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Senate on the second day of the impeachment trial on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Duterte gave a one-sentence statement saying that she would be "bloodied but unbowed" before heading out for a quick meeting with her legal team, who, according to her, advised her not to answer any questions from the press.   Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP Sara Impeachment

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178555011373220260707-senate-impeachment-sara-diuterte-MT5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Senate on the second day of the impeachment trial on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Senate on the second day of the impeachment trial on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Friday brushed aside recent survey results on the vice president’s public standing, saying it remains focused on the impeachment trial rather than politics.</p><p>Asked to react to Malacañang’s statement that Duterte’s lower ratings in a recent OCTA Research survey reflected Filipinos’ rejection of her position, defense spokesman Michael Poa said public opinion surveys were not the legal team’s concern.</p><p>“There are other surveys that came out yesterday… it shows that the rating of our Vice President is high,” Poa said.</p><p>He said survey results depend on the questions being asked and should not be treated as conclusive.</p><p>“We’re not too reliant on surveys… We’ll look at what questions were asked,” he said. </p><p>Poa added that Duterte herself had instructed the defense team to concentrate on the legal battle before the Senate impeachment court.</p><p>“The Vice President also told me not to really look into the political anymore. We just focus on our legal work,” he said.</p><p>His remarks came after Malacañang said Duterte’s declining numbers in an OCTA Research survey reflected Filipinos’ rejection of her narrative on the impeachment proceedings. A separate survey released this week, however, showed Duterte posting higher trust and approval ratings.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/27/marcos-duterte-trust-and-performance-ratings-drop-in-q2-2026-octa-1206"><strong>Marcos, Duterte trust and performance ratings drop in Q2 2026: OCTA</strong></a></div><p>Duterte saw an 8-percentage point decline in trust as ratings fell to 47 percent from 55 percent, while her performance numbers skidded by 5-percentage points to 45 percent to 50 percent.</p><p>OCTA&#x27;s Tugon ng Masa survey involved 1,200 respondents, who were surveyed from July 4-11, 2026. The study has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.</p><p>While Marcos&#x27; trust rating decreased by 5-percentage points to 49 percent in July from 54 percent in March, while his performance numbers tumbled to 47 percent from 55 percent in the same period.</p><p>In a recent SWS survey, Duterte saw a 58 percent satisfaction rate, while 15 percent were undecided while 26 percent were dissatisfied.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/sws-survey-majority-satisfied-with-duterte-s-performance-in-q2-2026-1944"><strong>SWS survey: Majority satisfied with Duterte’s performance in Q2 2026</strong></a></div><p>This brought her net satisfaction rating to “good” +31, two points higher than her first quarter’s +29.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/31/marcos-gets-majority-dissatisfaction-rating-vp-sara-posts-55-pct-approval-in-june-survey-1239"><strong>Marcos gets majority dissatisfaction rating, VP Sara posts 55 pct approval in June: WR Numero survey</strong></a></div><p>The Senate impeachment court is currently hearing Article I of the impeachment complaint, which accuses Duterte of allegedly misusing confidential funds during her tenure as vice president and Education secretary. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ADMISSIBILITY OF DUTERTE’S TAX</strong></div><p>Poa also reiterated that the defense would continue questioning the admissibility of Duterte’s tax records, bank records and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records presented before the impeachment court.</p><p>Earlier this week, the Bureau of Internal Revenue turned over Duterte’s tax records after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. authorized their release under an exception provided in the National Internal Revenue Code. </p><p>The Senate impeachment court had also ordered the production of Duterte’s bank and AMLC records as part of the proceedings.</p><p>While acknowledging the presidential authorization, Poa said the defense would still question whether it complied with the law.</p><p>“Our focus here in the legal team is that it’s already there. It is what it is. There’s an approval. Now, whether that approval already complies with the exceptions under the tax code, that’s one thing that we’ll look at,” Poa said. </p><p>He said the defense would also contest whether the documents were properly admitted as evidence.</p><p>Poa maintained that taxpayer information remains confidential under Section 270 of the Tax Code, while AMLC information is likewise protected under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. Although both laws contain exceptions, he said the defense believes those do not automatically apply to Duterte’s case.</p><p>He likewise argued that while the Bank Secrecy Law recognizes impeachment as an exception, it does not automatically make bank records admissible before the court.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘DOCUMENTS ARE THERE’</strong></div><p>Poa also defended the team’s decision to conduct only limited cross-examinations of prosecution witnesses during Wednesday’s hearing.</p><p>He said the defense did not dispute the authenticity of documentary evidence presented by former Land Bank officials, making lengthy questioning unnecessary.</p><p>“We don’t dispute anything because the documents are there,” he said.</p><p>Instead, the defense focused on clarifying testimony suggesting irregularity in the use of a fire exit during one of the cash withdrawals.</p><p>“I just wanted to get rid of the insinuation that there was something wrong with going through the fire exit,” he added.</p><p>Poa explained that the Land Bank branch involved was located inside the Department of Education compound, making the route neither unusual nor improper.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE WITNESSES EXPECTED </strong></div><p>The defense said prosecutors have yet to establish where the confidential funds ultimately went, noting that testimony so far has focused on how the money was withdrawn.</p><p>“Where it went, that will definitely be discussed in the next few hearings,” Poa said.</p><p>Officials from the Commission on Audit are expected to testify next as prosecutors seek to establish the alleged misuse of confidential funds.</p><p>Poa also confirmed that prosecutors had earlier indicated they may call “Mary Grace Piattos” as a witness.</p><p>The name became widely known during House investigations into Duterte’s confidential fund expenditures after lawmakers questioned acknowledgment receipts bearing names such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Miggy Mango” and “Kokoy Villamin,” which they alleged were fictitious.</p><p>Poa said the defense is prepared to cross-examine any witness the prosecution presents but declined to discuss the use of aliases in confidential fund operations, saying such matters should come from witnesses rather than lawyers.</p>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Friday brushed aside recent survey results on the vice president’s public standing, saying it remains focused on the impeachment trial rather than politics.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Friday brushed aside recent survey results on the vice president’s public standing, saying it remains focused on the impeachment trial rather than politics.

Defense brushes off survey results on VP Sara, says focus remains on impeachment trial

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Defense brushes off survey results on VP Sara, says focus remains on impeachment trial

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 01, 2026 10:18 AM PHT

|

Updated August 01, 2026 10:31 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

Michael Poa

Surveys

Duterte impeachment

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