Sara Duterte votes amid impeachment trial, warns against vote-buying

Vice President Sara Duterte voted on Monday morning in Davao City during the midterm elections, where she faces challenges introducing unfamiliar senatorial candidates to voters.

Duterte emphasized that voters should choose candidates based on their track records rather than family connections or entertainment skills, amid a bitter feud with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and accusations of vote-buying by his administration.

In the final days of the campaign, Duterte admitted that a short timeframe for voter introduction was particularly challenging, as she seeks to defend herself in an upcoming impeachment trial.

Only two out of ten Duterte-endorsed senatorial hopefuls are running for re-election, with eight being political newcomers, and five members of the Duterte family are contesting in this year's elections.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is among those facing charges at the International Criminal Court, adding another layer of complexity to the vice president’s campaign efforts.