Manila (AFP): Filipinos headed to midterm polls on Monday that are expected to strengthen President Rodrigo Duterte's grip on power, opening the way for him to deliver on pledges to restore the death penalty and rewrite the constitution.
More than 18,000 posts are at stake, including half of the seats in the upper house Senate, which has served as a bulwark against some of Duterte's most controversial policies.
His tough-on-crime platform -- which also includes lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 15 to 12 -- was key to his landslide election victory in 2016. Historically, the nation's 24 senators -- who serve six-year terms -- have had a reputation for being more independent-minded than the lower house.
It would also allow him to expand his contentious anti-drug crackdown by bringing back the death penalty, a pledge that the UN Human Rights Council said gave it"deep alarm". Even if the presidential term limit is not lifted, the Duterte family looks well-placed to continue after him.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Widows take over in Philippines deadly pollsManila: Gertrudes Batocabe never wanted to enter the Philippines’ cutthroat politics, but after her husband was shot dead, allegedly by a rival in next week’s midterm election, she felt bound to take his place.
Read more »
(Video) Cockroach crawls up Philippines’ Duterte during live speechPHILIPPINES President Rodrigo Duterte and his aide were seen on live television swatting away a cockroach that had crawled up his shirt on Wednesday (...
Read more »
Widows take over in Philippines deadly pollsManila: Gertrudes Batocabe never wanted to enter the Philippines’ cutthroat politics, but after her husband was shot dead, allegedly by a rival in next week’s midterm election, she felt bound to take his place.
Read more »
Leave no stone unturned over probe into allegations of vote buying in Sandakan polls, says PBSKOTA KINABALU: Opposition Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is urging a thorough probe into allegations of vote buying in the just concluded Sandakan parliamentary by-election.
Read more »
Sandakan polls: Candidates cast their votesSANDAKAN: DAP candidate Vivian Wong arrived to cast her vote at SK Muhibbah, one of the polling centres for the Sandakan by-election, at around 8am on Saturday (May 11).
Read more »
Despite brickbats, many will still vote for Pakatan, says pollKUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): KajiData Research’s latest public opinion poll on Pakatan Harapan's popularity as it celebrates its first anniversary in power shows that it is still deemed the most viable coalition to rule the country compared with its predecessor Barisan Nasional.
Read more »
Despite brickbats, many will still vote for PH, says pollKUALA LUMPUR: Kajidata Research’s latest public opinion poll on Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) popularity as it celebrates its first anniversary in power show...
Read more »
Sandakan polls: Bung says 9,700 Sabah Umno members will vote for PBSSANDAKAN: Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin says that the party is rallying the support of about 9,700 of its members to vote in support of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) in the upcoming by-election here.
Read more »
Polls body orders Istanbul vote rerun | The Malaysian InsightOpposition Republican People’s Party narrowly defeats President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party in March 31 local elections.
Read more »
Sandakan polls early voting begins | The Malaysian Insight270 police personnel to cast ballots at 2 polling stations.
Read more »
Duterte set to tighten grip on power | The Malaysian InsightPhilippines votes today with president likely to wrest control of Senate.
Read more »