Marcos, Duterte cast votes for 2025 midterm polls

Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte have cast their votes in their respective precincts during the 2025 midterm polls on Monday, May 12.

Marcos went back to his home turf in Ilocos Norte to cast his vote for both national and local positions at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School as soon as polling sites opened at 7 a.m.

The president encountered a minor glitch while inserting his ballot in the automated counting machine and had to re-insert the ballot before it was accepted.

Former First Lady Imelda Marcos and presidential sister Irene Marcos also voted in the same polling precinct.

Marcos’ wife Liza Araneta Marcos and their sons, including Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos, cast their votes in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.

Vice President Sara Duterte also cast her vote at the Daniel Aguinaldo National High School in her hometown in Davao City early election day.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is also in the list of voters listed at the polling site. However, he cannot vote as he is currently detained in the International Criminal Court at The Hague for charges on crimes against humanity.

Meanwhile, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez also traveled to their provinces in Sorsogon and Leyte, respectively, to cast their votes.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) opened polling sites at 5 a.m. for seniors, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, while voting for the general public began at 7 a.m. Polling sites will close at 7 p.m.

More than 68.6 million people are registered to vote in the midterm polls.