Duterte Allies on course to win big in Philippines midterm elections

Books Wednesday 15/May/2019 10:48 AM
By: Times News Service
Duterte Allies on course to win big in Philippines midterm elections

Manila: Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte are set to claim a sweeping victory in the country's midterm elections, according to preliminary results from the Philippines’ Commission on Elections.

The results, comprising nearly 95 per cent of votes, showed candidates endorsed by President Duterte winning eight of the 12 seats up for grabs in the 24-member Senate.

The president's senatorial bets included in the top 12 were Senator Cynthia Villar, who led the list with over four million votes, former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, former Senator Pia Cayetano, and former Philippine National Police chief Bato de la Rosa.

Other Duterte supported politicians to wound up on the list were Senator Sonny Angara, former Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino, and Koko Pomentel.

Only four figures not aligned with the president wound up on the list, including former Presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe, who won the second largest haul of votes, actor and former Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Nancy Binay, and Senator Bam Aquino, nephew of Benigno Aquino Jr.