Millions of people in the Philippines voted in the midterm elections on Monday. Former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently in prison, was one of the candidates trying to get one of the around 18,000 national and local positions. Local news showed President Marcos Jr. filling out his voting paper and voting in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

In this photo from the Presidential Communications Office, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is in the middle. He is showing the special ink on his finger after voting at a polling station in Batac City, Ilocos Norte province, Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

A man votes at a polling station in Quezon City, Philippines, Monday, May 12, 2025.

On Monday, May 12, 2025, voters in Quezon City, Philippines, cast their ballots at a polling station.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte made a gesture while she spoke to reporters at a press conference. This was after she voted in Davao City, southern Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

In this picture from Team Pacquiao, the famous Filipino boxer and former senator Manny Pacquiao shows the mark on his finger after he voted in Kiamba, southern Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Written by TERESA CEROJANO

Even though he is being held in The Hague, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was one of the candidates competing for around 18,000 national and local positions in Monday's elections. Experts believe these elections will show if he and his family will keep their political power.

Duterte has been held by the International Criminal Court since March. He is waiting for a trial for crimes against humanity because of a violent fight against illegal drugs during his presidency (2016-2022). Thousands of suspects died in this fight. However, this has not stopped him from trying to become mayor of Davao city, his strong area in the south.

In the Philippines, people with criminal charges, even if they are in prison, can run in elections. They can only be stopped if they are found guilty and have no more chances to appeal the decision.

It is generally thought that Duterte will win the election for mayor of Davao, a job he had for more than 20 years before he was president. However, it is not clear how he could do the work of a mayor while in prison.

More than 68 million Filipinos could vote on Monday for positions in the government, including some members of the Senate and all the members of the House of Representatives, as well as many local positions.

Voting finished at 7 p.m. in each area, but people who were still waiting were allowed to vote. Election workers said they might know the unofficial result in a few hours, but the official results would be announced within seven days.

The election for the Senate is important because it could affect the political future of Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. She might have a special trial in the Senate in July. This is because people say she planned to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and used money from her office wrongly. She says these claims are false and that her political enemies started them to hurt her.

Many people think Sara Duterte has a good chance to win the presidential election in 2028. But if the Senate finds her guilty of something, she will lose her job as vice president and will not be allowed to have any government position. To be found not guilty, at least nine of the 24 senators must vote for her.

The 2025 midterm elections will be very important because the results will show what happens next, including which family or group will be in control for the elections in 2028, according to Maria Ela Atienza, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines.

If Sara Duterte loses her job in the trial, it might mean the Duterte family will stop having important positions in the government, she explained. Other family members in the election include Rodrigo Duterte’s youngest son, Sebastian, who is currently the mayor of Davao but is now trying to become vice mayor and is likely to win. His oldest son Paolo wants to keep his position as a member of the House of Representatives. Two grandchildren are also trying to win elections in their local areas.

Rodrigo Duterte was impeached, arrested, and sent to the court in The Hague. This happened after his relationship with Marcos and Sara Duterte ended because they had political problems and different goals.

Earlier on Monday, Sara Duterte voted in Davao, and Marcos voted in his northern hometown, Batac City.

After voting, she told reporters she would accept the voters' decision, even if the candidates she supported lost.

Speaking about her father's expected win, she said: "He definitely won't be here. We expect the vice mayor, Sebastian, to be the acting mayor."

In a video message the day before the election, Marcos asked Filipinos to vote and express their opinions.

Her father's religious adviser and political friend, Apollo Quiboloy, who talks on TV, wants to be a Senator. But he is in prison because people say he committed sexual abuse and made people work against their will. The U.S. also wants him for these same reasons.

Sadly, voting has had problems with violence in some places. For example, in Silay City, two people were killed and seven were injured in a shooting. Also, in New Corella, two people died and two were hurt in a gunfight between supporters of two different candidates. In Basilan, seven people were killed in what police think were shootings related to the election. Other people were also injured in shootings in different areas of the country.

Also, fights between supporters of different candidates stopped voting in some areas. In Manila, some voters said their names were not on the list where they were supposed to vote. Others complained about the long line in the very hot weather.

Voter Reymark Marquez said the Marcos-Duterte team that won in 2022 didn't keep their promises. He said the midterm elections are not just about Duterte versus Marcos, but about choosing good leaders.

"I believe that what is most important in this election is the future of our children," said Diana Joy Acosta, a 32-year-old new mother, after voting. She hopes that for her baby's future, the country can stop corruption and elect honest politicians.