Philippines votes in midterm polls that could seal Sara Duterte’s fate

A bitter feud between political dynasties is playing out at the ballot box, with the Senate’s make-up set to decide the vice-president’s future

Voting in the Philippines got under way on Monday in midterm elections that could decide the fate of impeached Vice-President Sara Duterte, whose feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr comes as the nation grapples with both the global trade war and growing tensions with China.

More than 18,000 national and local positions are up for grabs, though the spotlight is on the Senate race, where the 12 winners – half of the 24-seat chamber – will be jurors in Duterte’s July impeachment trial. Markets are closed for the voting holiday and alcohol sales are temporarily banned.

The trial’s outcome may reshape the political landscape at a time when the strategically located archipelago is at the frontline of US efforts to deter China’s assertiveness. Duterte, whose father took a pro-Beijing stance in his 2016-2022 presidency, denies accusations of plotting to assassinate Marcos Jnr and misusing public funds.

“These midterm elections can be interpreted to some degree as a proxy battle between Duterte and Marcos as the two families vie for control at the top of Philippine politics,” said Dean Dulay, assistant professor of political science at Singapore Management University.

Marcos Jnr was among early voters, casting his ballot in Ilocos Norte province north of the capital, according to a live video from ABS-CBN. He gave a thumbs-up sign after voting with his mother, Imelda, the widow of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

The vice-president, daughter of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, is among the top contenders for the 2028 presidential election, based on surveys conducted by pollsters. But she may be ousted and barred from holding public office if at least two-thirds of the Senate vote to convict her, pushing her out of contention to succeed Marcos Jnr when his single, six-year term ends in 2028.

“Whether guilty or acquittal, I am ready for what will happen,” she told reporters after voting in her family’s bailiwick, Davao City, where her father is running for mayor despite his detention by the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. She predicted that more than two of her allies would win Senate seats.

Duterte opted for a black shirt “because these are dark times for the country”, she said. “Time is up. We cannot be silent any more. Someone should speak up that this administration is not doing what should be done for the country.”

Long queues confronted voters across the country, with many waiting for more than an hour to cast their ballot under the sweltering summer heat.

“I don’t like Marcos – it’s as if nothing has happened,” said Jennifer Yandoc, a 44-year old mother of four in San Fernando City north of Manila, pledging to vote for Duterte-endorsed candidates and referring positively to former President Rodrigo Duterte. “Duterte tackled the drug problem.”

Marcos Jnr has asked for a mandate to continue his programme.

“There is still much that needs to be done,” he said at a rally in the capital on Friday, after months of campaigning. “We have united the best Senate candidates to continue our progress, to continue our development.”

Sara Duterte has maintained relentless criticism of Marcos Jnr, with whom she ran on a joint ticket in the 2022 presidential election. At her own rally on Thursday, she tried to convince supporters to pick her so-called “DuterTEN” Senate slate.

Her father is awaiting trial by the ICC for alleged crimes against humanity during his deadly war on drugs. He denies wrongdoing. His youngest son and incumbent Davao mayor, Sebastian, is running to be his father’s deputy, while his eldest son, Paolo, is seeking to keep his congressional seat.

A strong showing is important for Marcos Jnr, who has overseen a dramatic shift in foreign policy. He has deepened a military alliance with the US and pushed back against expansive maritime claims by China. In contrast, Rodrigo Duterte had warm ties with Beijing and was critical of Washington.

Around 68.4 million people are eligible to vote in the election that closes at 7pm local time. The winning senators may emerge within hours after voting ends, although it could take days for a final result.

Food security and jobs are key issues. The nation of more than 7,000 islands – a global call centre hub that also relies on US$38 billion worth of remittances from millions of citizens overseas – had economic growth of 5.4 per cent in the first quarter. While that is faster than many countries, it missed estimates.

The election has been largely peaceful, but police are monitoring a few areas where voting has been affected by technical issues and power interruptions, according to police spokeswoman Jean Fajardo, speaking with local radio station DRZH.

Poll watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting pulled volunteers from a polling centre in southern Basilan province due to security concerns, ABS-CBN News reported.

First-time voter Rea Roque, a 20-year-old student from Bulacan province, said she researched the candidates’ platforms before heading for the ballot box. “I review for exams at school. Why wouldn’t I come prepared for the elections?”