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.
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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.
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