Philippine dynasties, famous names square off in midterm polls

Feud between President Marcos and the Dutertes playing out visibly in Senate race

- Mara Cepeda

MANILA - Politics has always been a family affair in the Philippines. And the May 2025 midterms will be no different as election fever begins, with dynastic clans and celebrities poised to dominate the coming polls that are seen as a proxy war between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his erstwhile allies, the Dutertes.

The week-long candidacy filing period for 2025's elections that culminated on Oct 8 saw a slew of familiar faces, among them figures from well-entrenched political dynasties and public personalities, many of whom are leading in the pre-election surveys.

A surprise candidacy filing on the final day was for doomsday pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing child sexual abuse and human trafficking charges. The controversial 74-year-old preacher, an ally and spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested in September after a long manhunt and is currently detained in Manila while awaiting trial. Quiboloy's lawyer filed the candidacy papers for him.

The circumstances are not without precedent. In May 2022, Mr Jose Estrada won a Senate seat while on trial for corruption. He took up the post and was acquitted in January 2024.

Candidates are disqualified from standing in Senate elections only if they have exhausted all appeals after being convicted of offenses involving "moral turpitude", according to the election code.