Millions of Filipinos began casting votes on Monday in a mid-term election largely regarded as a proxy battle between President Ferdinand Marcos and the impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. Normally a low-key event, these midterms hold significant importance for the futures of the two leaders. The votes will determine over 18,000 positions, ranging from mayors and governors to seats in the House of Representatives, serving the Philippines’ population of over 110 million. The fight for more than a dozen senate seats, in a 24-member house, is of particular interest as they will constitute half of the jury in an impeachment trial for Duterte later in the year. Failure for Sara Duterte to gain at least 9 out of 24 votes could result in her being publicly barred from public office. Meanwhile, Marcos is battling for his political and economic agenda, along with influence for succession in 2028. Voters were seen queuing at polling stations across Manila even before the polls officially opened at 7 am local time.
The long-standing feud between Marcos and Duterte escalated when Sara Duterte was impeached by the Senate in February for alleged “high crimes,” including corruption and an assassination plot against the president. Things took a turn when Duterte’s father and former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and flown to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity related to his war on drugs, which allegedly led to thousands of deaths. Sara Duterte condemned her father’s arrest as a “kidnapping” and accused Marcos of undermining the nation’s sovereignty by allowing a foreign court to detain a former president.
Despite being detained by the ICC in The Hague since March, awaiting his trial, the former president’s name is on the ballot for mayor in his hometown of Davao City. This is legally permissible under Philippine law, which only bars candidates from running if they have been convicted of a crime and have exhausted all legal appeals. At least one local poll predicted that Duterte would secure a comfortable win in his stronghold city.
Security has been heightened amidst reports of violent clashes between supporters of rival political camps, with the national police and additional personnel from the military, fire departments, and other agencies deployed to protect polling stations and election officials. On Sunday, the Philippine army reported at least two people had been killed in such a clash.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/philippines-holds-midterm-elections-amid-marcos-duterte-feud/a-72511613?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
