Manilla, May 12 – Allies of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appeared set to win at least half of the available Senate seats in Monday’s midterm elections, according to unofficial tallies, in a vote widely seen as a referendum on his leadership and a key test of strength against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The unofficial results showed that six of the 12 Senate seats up for grabs were likely to go to Marcos-backed candidates, reinforcing support for his policy agenda and bolstering his influence in the upper chamber. The outcome follows the collapse of a once-powerful political alliance between Marcos and Duterte, daughter of controversial former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“This strengthens the president’s hand, but it doesn’t guarantee control,” said Ederson Tapia, a political scientist at the University of Makati. “We will likely see further Senate fragmentation, particularly as political figures position themselves for 2028.”
The election saw roughly 18,000 positions contested nationwide, including governors, mayors, and lawmakers. But it was the Senate race that captured national attention amid an increasingly acrimonious split between the country’s top two leaders.
Duterte, a leading contender for the 2028 presidential race, is facing an impeachment threat over allegations of fund misuse, unexplained wealth, and a purported plot to assassinate President Marcos and other officials—charges she strongly denies. The 24-member Senate would serve as a jury in any trial, with a two-thirds majority—or 16 votes—needed to convict.
Despite her legal challenges, four Duterte-aligned candidates also looked set to secure Senate seats, according to preliminary results. Analysts say that would give her an important foothold in the influential chamber.
The bitter power struggle has dominated headlines since the Marcos-Duterte alliance unraveled last year, turning into a public feud with personal accusations and mounting legal action. The political tension escalated further in March when former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested at the request of the International Criminal Court over his bloody anti-drug campaign. He is currently detained in The Hague and facing trial for alleged crimes committed during his administration.
Both Dutertes have denied any wrongdoing and criticized the proceedings. Sara Duterte has accused Marcos of attempting to destroy her family politically and of “selling out” national sovereignty by allowing the former president’s arrest—an accusation Marcos has rejected.
In a show of enduring support, Rodrigo Duterte appeared poised for a landslide victory in his hometown of Davao City, where unofficial results show he is set to become mayor once again. His son is leading in the race for vice mayor.
Official results from Monday’s elections are expected to be announced starting Tuesday.
