Duterte allies dominate Senate midterm election in Philippines, first results show

Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s loyalists have dominated a midterm Senate election, according to unofficial results on Tuesday, indicating growing support for the maverick leader.

Nine of the 12 Senate seats available look set to go to pro-Duterte candidates and the rest to independents.

Monday’s ballot for more than 18,000 posts, among them hundreds of mayors, governors, and members of congress, was billed as a referendum on the firebrand president, with special focus on his bid to consolidate power in the all-important upper house, Reuters said.

A Senate majority would lessen the chance of house probes against Duterte’s government and make it easier to co-opt independents and sideline opponents to push through bills vital to his reform agenda.