Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has secured a landslide victory in the Davao City mayoral race, even as he remains in detention at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague on charges related to his controversial anti-drug campaign.
Duterte's re-election bid comes amid a complex political landscape, with his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, facing an impending Senate impeachment trial on charges including corruption and alleged assassination plots against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Despite his detention, Philippine law permits Duterte to run for office unless he is convicted with no remaining appeals. His son, Sebastian Duterte, is expected to assume mayoral duties in his absence, continuing the family's political legacy in Davao City.
The 2025 midterm elections have highlighted the enduring influence of political dynasties in the Philippines, with the Duterte family's stronghold in Davao City reaffirmed, even as national political alliances shift and legal challenges loom
Meanwhile President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr is facing a potential setback in the Philippine Senate as early results from the mid-term elections show his allies winning fewer seats than expected.
With about 80% of the vote counted, only six senate candidates backed by Marcos appear to have secured seats. One of them is also supported by the Duterte camp, further blurring alliance lines.
The mid-terms, held on Monday, were widely seen as a proxy contest between Marcos Jr and Vice President Sara Duterte, whose impeachment trial will be decided by the Senate. Her political future may depend on how the newly elected senators vote.
Sara Duterte has called the charges against her “political persecution.” If found guilty, she faces a potential ban from public office, jeopardising her expected 2028 presidential bid.
In the Senate race, only one Marcos-backed candidate — journalist and broadcaster Erwin Tulfo — placed in the top five. Duterte loyalist Christopher “Bong” Go led the tally, followed by Bam Aquino and Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, another Duterte ally and former police chief.
Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, was among the winners but had earlier broken ranks with her brother and is now aligned with the Duterte bloc.
The results signal a shift in the political landscape. Bam Aquino, a cousin of the late President Benigno Aquino III, made a strong showing in second place. His win, along with that of his ally Francis Pangilinan, marks the first significant return of the Aquino family to national politics in years.
The Aquinos were longtime opponents of the Marcos family, with tensions dating back to the 1983 assassination of opposition leader Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr, which helped spark the 1986 People Power Revolution and the fall of the Marcos dictatorship.
Monday's polls were held under hot weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 33°C (91°F). Voter turnout was strong, although there were reports of ballot machine failures and sporadic violence.
The results have intensified the political rivalry between the Marcos and Duterte camps, with alliances now in flux. Analysts say loyalty among senators may shift depending on personal ambitions and future political manoeuvres.
The newly elected Senate is expected to play a crucial role not only in the impeachment trial of the vice president but also in shaping the country’s political direction ahead of the 2028 presidential election.
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