Sara Duterte Allies Outperform in Race for Philippine Senate

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.

Candidates backed by the vice president appear on course to win at least four of the 12 Senate seats being contested, GMA News reported, with more than two-thirds of votes counted. Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is leading a mayoral race in the south despite being detained by the International Criminal Court, and two of her brothers look set to win other contests.