Pinoys find VP’s business interests ‘unacceptable’

Vice President Sara Duterte shares breakfast with personnel from the Office of the Vice President—Central Office and Pangasinan Satellite Office—after Mass at the Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag Church in Pangasinan in October 2025.

Vice President Sara Duterte via Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Half of adult Filipinos are against Vice President Sara Duterte owning businesses or holding business interests while in office, according to a survey conducted by research firm Momentum.

The survey, conducted from Oct. 16 to 19, showed that 50 percent of the respondents found it either “unacceptable” or “very unacceptable” for the Vice President to have business interests.

Thirty-six percent said it was either “acceptable” or “very acceptable,” while 14 percent were either unsure or refused to answer the survey.

The Constitution specifically restricts the president, vice president and members of the Cabinet from having business interests.

In her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), Duterte wrote that she is a stockholder of GenCorp Industries Inc., a corporation operating fast-food chains in Davao City.

She is also reportedly a shareholder and board member of Metro City Chow Foods Corp.

A witness during the Senate impeachment trial confirmed that the Vice President received P2.14 million from GenCorp from 2022 to 2025 as “return of capital.”

Based on the Momentum survey, acceptance of Duterte having business interests is higher among those identified as “pro-Duterte.”

Some 52 percent of pro-Duterte respondents found the arrangement acceptable, compared to 32 percent among pro-Marcos, 21 percent among pro-opposition and 33 percent among independent respondents.

Those who disapproved of the arrangement was significantly higher among pro-opposition respondents at 73 percent, followed by pro-Marcos at 62 percent, independents at 53 percent and pro-Duterte at just 35 percent.

“Regional views also vary, with Metro Manila recording the highest share of disapproval and Mindanao standing out as the only area where more adults find Duterte’s business interests acceptable,” Momentum said.

“Generational differences also emerge, with Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation expressing the strongest disapproval of a public official holding business interests while in office. Millennials, on the other hand, are comparatively more accepting of Duterte’s business interests,” it added.