Manila, Philippines - Even if he was detained in The Hague, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was one of the candidates for about 18,000 national and local seats in the midterm elections on Monday, and analysts say whether he and his family continue to hold political power.

Duterte has been detained by the International Criminal Court since March, awaiting trial of crimes against humanity, allegedly brutal war on illegal drugs, which killed thousands of suspects during the presidency period 2016-2022. This did not stop him from running for mayor of his southern Davao stronghold.

Under Philippine law, candidates facing criminal charges, including in custody, unless convicted and exhausted of all appeals.

Duterte was generally won by the mayor of Davao City, who had held positions for more than twenty years before serving as president. It is unclear how he could actually be mayor from prison.

More than 68 million Filipinos registered to vote on Monday in all 317 seats in the 24 Senate, House of Representatives, and various posts in provinces, cities and municipalities. The spotlight is the Senate campaign that can determine the political future of Duterte’s daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.

She faced an improvisation trial in the Senate in July, which accused the assassination of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and corruption involving his office intelligence fund. She denied the allegations, saying they were destroyed by her political opponents.

Sara Duterte is considered a strong contender for the 2028 presidential campaign. However, if convicted by the Senate, she will be removed from office as vice president and disqualified from office. In order to be acquitted, she needs at least nine out of 24 senators to vote for her.

"The 2025 midterm elections will be crucial, as the results will be stepping down for what will happen next, which family or faction will dominate the election in 2028," said Maria Ela Atienza, a professor of political science at the University of the Philippines.

She said that if Sara Duterte was convicted in the improper trial, it could mark the end of the Duterte family's possession of key positions in the country. Other family members running in the election include Sebastian, the youngest son of Rodrigo Duterte, who is now running for deputy mayor. His eldest son, Paolo, is seeking re-election as a member of the House of Representatives. The two grandchildren also ran in the local competition.

The arrest and transfer of the Impotence and Rodrigo Duterte to the court in The Hague after the uncovered political differences and its competitive ambitions between Marcos and Sara Duterte.

"This election will determine the future of our country," Sara Duterte said at a rally in Manila last week, where she ran for a family-supported senatorial candidate and criticized the Marcos administration. “Your vote will determine whether we can continue to reform or continue to slide into our doom.”

Her father’s spiritual adviser and close political ally, telecommunications propagandist Apollo Quiboloy, is running for the Senate despite being detained for sexual abuse and human trafficking. He was also wanted in the United States on similar charges.

The vote will last until 7pm on Monday. Some voters complain that their names lack a voter list for their area, while others complain about the long queues in the hot heat.

Voter Reymark Marquez said the Marcos-Duterte team, which won in 2022, failed to deliver on their promises. He said the midterm elections “are beyond Duterte and Marcos, but the right leaders are to be chosen.”

"I think the future of this election is the future of the next generation," said new mother Diana Joy Acosta, 32, after a vote at a school in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila. For the future of the baby, she hopes to end the election of corrupt and honest politicians.