MANILA, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Preliminary results from Monday's midterm elections showed that allies of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appeared to have secured six out of the 12 contested Senate seats, a performance that fell short of expectations.
Meanwhile, the camp of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was poised to claim five Senate seats, with Camille Villar, a "guest candidate" on their slate who also enjoys backing from Marcos, included in the count.
The former president's longtime ally Christopher Go topped the list of winning candidates, while fellow loyalist Ronald Dela Rosa came in third.
In a dramatic development, Rodrigo Duterte regained the mayorship of Davao City while being held at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. It remains unclear how his victory will be enforced given his current detention.
In addition to the former president, his two sons, Sebastian and Paolo, were elected vice mayor and congressman, respectively. Two of his grandchildren also won in local races.
"While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, our commitment to the people remains unwavering," said Rodrigo Duterte's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. "We will continue to hold the government accountable, advocate for the issues that matter, and work tirelessly to serve as a strong and constructive opposition," she added.
The composition of the new Senate will play a critical role in Sara Duterte's political future, as she faces an impeachment trial later this year.
Roughly 68 million Filipinos cast their ballots in what has widely been viewed as a proxy battle between Marcos and Sara Duterte, former political allies whose relationship deteriorated after their 2022 landslide victory as running mates.
The midterm polls covered over 18,000 positions, including 12 Senate seats, members of the House of Representatives, and various provincial and local posts.
The Commission on Elections is expected to officially declare the winners in the coming days. Enditem
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