(Bullit Marquez/Associated Press)MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine president’s allies won a majority of the 12 Senate seats at stake in midterm elections, official results showed Wednesday, while the opposition’s shutout heralds a stronger grip on power by a leader accused of massive human rights violations. Duterte’s three children also won races for mayor, vice mayor and a congressional seat representing their southern home region of Davao city. The president has aimed for stronger leverage in the traditionally more independent Senate to bolster his legislative agenda. If the handful of opposition senators whose seats were not up for election and independent senators forge an alliance on any issue, they could potentially offset the strong majority Duterte’s allies hold in the new upper chamber. Senator-elect Grace Poe, an independent who got the second-most votes, said she would work for a Senate with a balanced stance.

Source: Washington Post May 22, 2019 01:14 UTC