A Philippine midterm election may have leaned in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's favour but the stronger-than-expected showing for estranged vice president and bitter rival Sara Duterte may have given him a jolt,

Two liberal Philippine politicians have emerged as key players after a surprisingly strong performance in Senate elections, gaining support from a bloc of voters dissatisfied with rancor between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

EVEN as he is detained in The Hague for crimes against humanity, former president Rodrigo Duterte will still be proclaimed as mayor-elect of Davao City, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco on Tuesday explained the process of proclaiming winning candidates after an election.

Allies of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte are outperforming in the early count for the Senate election, an unexpected setback for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that boosts his deputy’s chances of surviving an upcoming impeachment trial and remaining eligible to run for the presidency in 2028.