Allies of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr looked set to win at least half of the available Senate seats in a midterm election on Monday, an unofficial tally showed, in a contest seen as a referendum on his leadership and a fierce proxy battle with his estranged vice president.

Here’s what to know about the crucial midterms and the rival dynasties at the heart of the Southeast Asian nation’s politics.

Local media in the Philippines say candidates allied with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are certain to have won more Senate seats than those backed by Vice President Sara Duterte.

A bitter feud between political dynasties is playing out at the ballot box, with the Senate’s make-up set to decide the vice-president’s future.

In this photo provided by the Presidential Communications Office, Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, shows the indelible ink on his finger after casting his ballot at a polling station in Batac City,

When 68 million Filipinos head to the polls on Monday, Sara Duterte's name will not be on the ballot. But the results of the election will have a large, if not direct, impact on her political future.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touted economic gains under his government as he made a final pitch for his Senate candidates before the May 12 midterm vote.