Polls close in pivotal Philippine midterms
Ballot counting is underway in the Philippines' midterm elections amid an acrimonious standoff between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
All eyes are on the Senate races as the chamber is set to hold an impeachment trial against Duterte.
Voters cast ballots at both national and local levels halfway through the president's six-year term.
Up for grabs were half the 24 Senate seats, all seats in the House of Representatives and posts in provinces, cities and municipalities.
Duterte was Marcos's running mate in the 2022 presidential election. But they're now embroiled in a bitter feud.
One issue is the arrest of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Marcos initially pledged not to help the court. But he backtracked, enraging the vice president.
Sara Duterte backed her father's close aides as Senate candidates. But they struggled to win support during the campaign, especially those with a pro-China bent.
The administration of Duterte senior worked to strengthen ties with Beijing, shelving territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The Marcos administration has sided with the US, giving American forces greater access to Philippine bases.
Sara Duterte was impeached by the Lower House in February. Senators will try her as early as July. She faces charges including misuse of public funds. If she's convicted, she won't be able to run in the 2028 presidential election.
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