Philippines votes against backdrop of Marcos-Duterte feud

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Around 68 million voters are set to cast their ballots in an election taking place under the shadow of political upheaval

MANILA, Philippines – In what is seen to be a referendum of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, Filipinos entered election day of the 2025 midterm polls on Monday, May 12.

During the midterm elections, Filipinos vote for senators, party-list representatives, and local officials. Some 66 candidates are gunning for 12 coveted Senate seats, while around 156 party-list groups are in the running to win at least one of the 63 seats up for grabs.

From national to local, there are over 18,000 posts that Filipinos will decide occupants for.

There are a record-high 68.43 million registered voters expected to cast their ballots on Monday. These exclude the 1.24 million voters registered abroad, who will end their month-long voting period at 7 pm on Monday, the same time polls close locally.

New technology is also a key feature of this year’s polls, with the Philippines using technology provided by South Korean firm Miru Systems for the first time.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) asked almost all of the overseas voters, meanwhile, to use SMS Global Technologies’ internet voting system to vote. Filipinos abroad have experienced significant challenges with the overhauled system, particularly low awareness and distrust.

Divided from the top

The elections take place with an electorate that is politically divided in a way that deviates from the usual administration-versus-opposition narratives the country has seen in recent years. The last time the Philippines had an election, the Uniteam alliance between Marcos and his then-running mate Sara Duterte was seen as a powerhouse. Today, their alliance is broken.

Vice President Duterte had already started distancing herself from the President around a year after the two started their terms when drama ensued at the House of Representatives, led by presidential cousin Speaker Martin Romualdez, when Duterte’s ally Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was booted out of the House leadership.

Though the two on occasion tried to publicly maintain that they still had good relations, Duterte still exited Marcos’ Cabinet as education secretary in June 2024. But perhaps the final straw was when Marcos allowed the International Criminal Court to arrest Duterte’s father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, for alleged crimes against humanity.

Sara Duterte’s impeachment for damning revelations about her confidential funds and her father’s arrest happened just within a month of each other, in February and March.

With Marcos and Duterte having their own set of anointed Senate bets, it’s a battle of numbers for whether the upper chamber will vote to convict or acquit the Vice President.

Contenders

But alternative candidates are trying to break the narrative that the elections are only between Marcos and Duterte.

Liberal Party bet and former senator Kiko Pangilinan is seeking to return to the upper chamber. He is allied with former senator Bam Aquino, who is running under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino Party.

The two, however, face an uphill battle. “Magic 12” lists in pre-election surveys show members of political dynasties and household names who have long enjoyed fame and power, such as the Tulfo brothers and reelectionist senators Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, and Bato dela Rosa. The spots typically belong to either Marcos’ Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, or ex-president Duterte’s slate composed of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban bets and his former appointees and confidantes.

Progressives are also trying to break through with the odds stacked against them. The Makabayan bloc is fielding a senatorial slate that aims to bring representation of women, workers, peasants, and ordinary Filipinos into the upper chamber. Several labor leaders are also trying their luck again after failed bids in the past.

Local scene

In the local polls are various narratives of towns, cities, and provinces, where gut issues like health care, utilities, and the state of grassroots industries are primary considerations for Filipinos in choosing their leaders.

Many Filipinos will also likely remain under the grip of families who have consolidated power among themselves. Meanwhile, in races like that of Pasig City, where Mayor Vico Sotto rose to popularity as a champion of good governance, big business is attempting to take hold of power.

Follow Rappler’s coverage of the 2025 elections on our one-stop microsite. – Rappler.com