The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — Majority of Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte holds billions of pesos in undisclosed bank accounts, with public opinion sharply divided along political lines, according to a nationwide survey following recent legislative inquiries and reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). The non-commissioned survey, conducted by Tangere from April 29 to 30 with 1,200 respondents, showed that 58 percent of Filipinos believe the allegations although these vary significantly depending on the political affiliation. Among supporters of the current administration, 82 percent said they believed Duterte possessed hidden wealth, despite her alliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 elections. Similarly, 81 percent of respondents aligned with the Liberal Party or supporters of former vice president Leni Robredo said they considered the allegations credible. Neutral or independent voters also leaned toward believing the claims, with about 67 percent expressing the view that the vice president holds undisclosed funds. In contrast, Duterte’s core supporters—who make up about 40 percent of the population in the survey—largely rejected the allegations. Only around one-third of this group said they believed the claims, while the majority described the issue as a politically motivated smear campaign. The findings point to a deeply polarized public, with analysts noting that belief in the allegations extends beyond traditional opposition groups and into independent and administration-leaning voters. “The high level of belief among neutral and administration supporters suggests that recent AMLC disclosures have gained traction beyond the usual political blocs,” the report said. At the same time, the survey indicated a strong base of Duterte supporters who remained unconvinced, reflecting what the report described as an entrenched “defender” bloc that may view the controversy through the lens of the 2028 elections. The survey also measured public awareness and perception of the AMLC, which has been at the center of the financial disclosures. Results showed that 90 percent of Filipinos were aware of the AMLC and its functions. Among those aware, 51 percent expressed trust in the agency, while 30 percent said they distrusted it. Satisfaction levels were similarly moderate, with 52 percent saying they were satisfied with the AMLC’s performance, compared to 28 percent who were dissatisfied. The survey used a mobile-based application and employed stratified random sampling with quota-based distribution across regions. Respondents were drawn from across the country, including 12 percent from the National Capital Region, 23 percent from Northern Luzon, 22 percent from Southern Luzon, 20 percent from the Visayas, and 23 percent from Mindanao. The margin of error was ±2.77 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. Tangere, the firm behind the survey, described the study as non-commissioned and aimed at capturing Filipino sentiment on current national issues.
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