A recent survey conducted by The Global Filipino Magazine from February 27 to March 1, 2025, sought to capture the sentiments of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Middle East regarding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. The results reveal overwhelming support for the embattled VP, with the majority believing that the impeachment is politically motivated and will significantly impact Filipinos working abroad.
The survey, which was conducted through a restricted Facebook poll, gathered 709 responses exclusively from Middle East-based OFWs.
Awareness of impeachment case
An overwhelming 94.8% of respondents stated they were fully aware of VP Duterte’s impeachment, while 4.9% had heard about it but lacked details. Only 0.3% were unaware of the issue, underscoring how closely OFWs are following political events in the Philippines.
Majority oppose impeachment
When asked if they agreed with the decision to impeach VP Duterte based on current allegations, 80.7% strongly disagreed, while 2.4% somewhat disagreed. In contrast, only 15.9% strongly agreed, and 0.8% somewhat agreed with the impeachment. A minimal 0.1% remained neutral or undecided.
Which allegation is most serious?
Among the various accusations against Duterte, 67.7% of OFWs believed none of the allegations were serious enough to warrant impeachment. Meanwhile, 15.8% considered the alleged misuse of confidential funds as the most serious, 2.7% cited her supposed threats against President Marcos and other officials, and 0.3% pointed to alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings. 13.5% believed all accusations were equally serious.
Perception of political motivation
A staggering 79.4% of respondents believed the impeachment was definitely politically motivated, with 4.5% stating it was partially influenced by politics. Only 13% believed the impeachment was purely based on evidence, while 3.1% were unsure.
Impact on OFWs
A key concern for overseas Filipinos is how political turmoil in the Philippines affects them. The survey found that 75.5% of respondents believed the impeachment would significantly impact OFWs, while 5% felt it would have a slight impact. 12.7% believed it would have no impact at all, while 6.8% were unsure.
The survey post on The Global Filipino Magazine’s Facebook page garnered 924 comments, with many OFWs expressing strong opinions about the impeachment case.
Dubai-based OFW Noemi De Vera voiced her opposition to the impeachment, saying: “NO to impeachment. OFWs love DU30 brand of leadership. Remove all corrupt officials and old politicians who have done nothing for the welfare of Filipinos kundi payaman sa bulsa.”
Another Dubai-based OFW, Sanji Kun, questioned the fairness of the impeachment proceedings, stating: “Our family believed and fully support Sara DU30. It’s very obvious even sa oral argument ng Supreme Court na may irregularities sa issue ng PhilHealth – and take note, involve ang BBM admins and House of Crocs. DU30 We all fully vote Team SUKA. Especially Marcoleta, Vic Rodriguez, and Hinlo.”
Meanwhile, Marco Busayong, an OFW working in the UAE for almost 20 years, compared Duterte’s leadership with the UAE’s rapid development: “As an OFW who has been working for almost 20 years in the UAE, and saw how this country has turned into in just 50 years, I long for our beloved country to have brave, strong, and visionary leaders like the Dutertes. FPRRD has showed us how to lead a country. He set the bar high and brought pride among majority of Filipinos abroad.”
Disclaimer: This is an informal survey conducted by The Global Filipino Magazine to gauge the sentiments of OFWs in the Middle East regarding the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte. The results reflect the opinions of respondents who participated in the poll and do not represent the views of the entire OFW community.
