Pulse Asia on Corona: 43% undecided , 33% probably guilty, 15% guilty, 5% innocent

This is a media release from Pulse Asia. The survey fieldwork was conducted from February 26 to March 9, 2012 using face-to-face interviews.

Even as about eight in ten Filipinos (84%) report that they follow the ongoing impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona, a small majority (56%) admits knowing little about the impeachment

Most Filipinos (84%) say they are following the impeachment trial of Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona – an act reported by overwhelming majorities in every geographic area (75% to 91%) and socio-economic class (76% to 90%). In particular, majorities say they are monitoring developments regarding the impeachment trial through television – 80% at the national level, 67% to 84% across geographic areas and 70% to 88% across socio-economic groupings. The rest of the population (16%) is not monitoring the impeachment trial, with lack of interest being most pronounced in the poorest Class E (24%) and the Visayas (25%).

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However, when asked regarding the extent of their knowledge about the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona, 56% of Filipinos say they know only a little about the issue – an admission made by near to small majorities across geographic areas (48% to 62%) and socio-economic classes (50% to 58%). Additionally, 11% of Filipinos say they have almost no or no knowledge at all about the issue. In contrast, only 8% report knowing a great deal about the impeachment and 24% say they know enough about the issue.

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While 47% of Filipinos think Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is guilty of the charges filed against him, 43% are ambivalent as regards his innocence or guilt

Almost half of the Filipino population (47%) is of the view that Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is guilty, with 33% saying he is probably guilty and 15% being certain about his guilt. Meanwhile, 43% cannot say whether the government official is guilty or not. Practically the same percentages across geographic areas and socio-economic classes either think the Chief Justice is guilty (37% to 52%) or express indecision on the matter (43% to 48%). An exception is Mindanao where 54% say the Supreme Court Chief Justice is guilty and significantly fewer residents (31%) are undecided on the matter. On the other hand, only 5% of Filipinos believe Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is innocent of the charges filed against him, with 4% saying he is probably innocent and 1% saying he is definitely innocent.

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Filipinos’ opinion on whether the Supreme Court Chief Justice is innocent or guilty was formed during the conduct of the impeachment trial

A sizeable majority (64%) of those who say Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is innocent arrived at this conclusion as the impeachment trial was unfolding. Practically the same percentage of those who believe the latter is guilty also reports that they formed their opinion on the matter in the course of the trial. Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, most of those who say the Supreme Court Chief Justice is guilty formed their opinion on the matter during the conduct of the impeachment trial (56% to 76% and 66% to 68%, respectively). Among those saying Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona is innocent, majorities in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon and Mindanao (64% to 73%) and Classes D and E (62% to 77%) also formed their opinion on the matter as the trial was being done at the Senate.

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But no matter how they feel about Corona, the majority of the respondents — 69 percent — said they expect the Senate to be fair and impartial in judging the case against the Chief Justice.

Read more of the survey at Impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato C. Corona