Millions of Filipinos voted in their midterm elections on Monday. Rodrigo Duterte, the former president who is in prison, was one of the candidates trying to win one of the 18,000 positions at the national and local levels. President Marcos Jr. was shown on local television completing his ballot and voting in Batac City, Ilocos Norte.

In this picture from the Presidential Communications Office, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shows the special ink on his finger after voting in Batac City, Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

A man votes at a voting place in Quezon City, Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Citizens exercised their right to vote at a polling station in Quezon City, Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte gestures and talks to reporters at a press conference after she voted in Davao City, southern Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

In this photo from Team Pacquiao, the famous Filipino boxer and former senator Manny Pacquiao shows the ink on his finger after voting in Kiamba, Sarangani province, southern Philippines, on Monday, May 12, 2025.

Written by TERESA CEROJANO

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

Since March, Duterte has been held by the International Criminal Court. He is waiting for a trial for crimes against humanity. These crimes happened during his time as president from 2016 to 2022. They were part of a tough campaign against illegal drugs where thousands of people died. But this has not stopped him from trying to become the mayor of Davao city in the south, where he is very popular.

In the Philippines, people accused of crimes, even those in prison, can run for election. They can only be stopped if they are found guilty and have no more ways to appeal the court's decision.

People generally think Duterte will win the election for mayor in Davao. He was the mayor there for more than 20 years before he became president. But it's not easy to see how he could actually be the mayor if he is in prison.

More than 68 million Filipinos registered to vote on Monday for different government positions, including half of the 24 members of the Senate, all 317 seats in the House of Representatives, and jobs in local areas like provinces, cities, and towns.

Voting finished at 7 p.m. local time, but people who were still waiting in line could vote. Officials said the first results might be known in a few hours, and the final results would be announced within a week.

The main focus is on the Senate election. This election could decide the political future of Vice President Sara Duterte, who is the daughter of the former president. She will have a trial in the Senate in July. This is because of accusations that she planned to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and used money for her office's intelligence work incorrectly. She has said these accusations are not true. She believes her political enemies spread 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, she will lose her job as vice president and won't be allowed to have any government position. To be found not guilty, she must get at least nine out of the 24 senators to vote for her.

According to Maria Ela Atienza, a political science professor at the University of the Philippines, the 2025 midterm elections are very important because they will show which group or family will be most successful in the 2028 elections.

If Sara Duterte is found guilty in the impeachment trial, it might mean the Duterte family will no longer have important jobs in the government, she stated. Other family members running in the election include Rodrigo Duterte's youngest son, Sebastian, who is currently the mayor of Davao. He is now trying to become vice mayor and many people think he will win. His oldest son, Paolo, is trying to be elected again as a member of the House of Representatives. Two of his grandsons are also running in local elections.

Rodrigo Duterte was impeached, arrested, and sent to the court in The Hague after Marcos and Sara Duterte had problems with their relationship because of political disagreements and their different goals.

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

She told reporters after voting that she would accept the result if the candidates she supported didn't win.

Speaking about her father’s expected win, she said: “Of course, he will not be here. We expect that the vice mayor, Sebastian, will act as mayor.”

Marcos, in a video the day before the election, asked Filipinos to vote and share their opinions.

Her father's religious adviser and political supporter, Apollo Quiboloy, is trying to become a senator. But he is in prison for serious crimes and is also wanted in another country.

However, there were some violent incidents during the voting in different places. For example, in Silay City, police said two people were killed and seven were injured in a shooting. In New Corella, supporters of two candidates for mayor had a gunfight, and two people died and two were injured. In Basilan, seven people died in shootings that people think were related to the election. Other people were also hurt in shootings in other parts of the country.

Problems during voting included fights between supporters of different candidates, people in Manila whose names were not on the list, and long lines in the heat.

Voter Reymark Marquez said the Marcos-Duterte team that won in 2022 didn't do what they promised. He said the midterm elections are not just about Duterte against Marcos, but about picking good leaders.

"I believe this election will decide the future of our children," said Diana Joy Acosta, a 32-year-old mother, after voting in Mandaluyong City, Manila. She hopes the election will bring an end to corruption and choose honest politicians for her baby's future.