Marcos, Duterte, Escudero cast vote in Philippines 2025 midterm elections

MANILA, Philippines 

Philippines President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the nation in casting his vote in the 2025 midterm elections at the Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on Monday.

The President was accompanied by his mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, and his sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta.

President Marcos is among the more than 68 million registered voters across the country.

Vice President Sara Duterte voted at the Daniel Aguinaldo High School at around 8:30 a.m., according to a clip from GMA Network, The Manila Times partner in the coverage of the 2025 Elections.

She shares her precinct with her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at The Hague for crimes against humanity.

Senate President Francis Escudero and his wife Heart Evangelista-Escudero voted at 7 a.m. at the Buhatan Integrated School, Barangay Buhatan, Sorsogon.

In his message, Escudero emphasized that all Filipinos stood equal on election day, regardless of their social status, wealth, power, education, or gender.

The Senate president called upon voters to make informed choices, asserting that no individual holds a monopoly on knowing who deserves to win based on wealth or status. He invited citizens to envision a brighter future for the next generation, saying, "Let us vote for the future of our children and the welfare of our nation."

Escudero urged respect for the electoral process and the diverse voices of the electorate. He reminded candidates to honor the sanctity of the ballot and the decision-making power of the voters.

In his closing, Escudero expressed hope for a peaceful election and stressed the importance of accepting the people's decision, regardless of political affiliation. "May our election be peaceful, and may we all accept the people's decision," he said.

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a total of 18,280 seats covering 14 different posts from senators to municipal councilors are up for grabs in this important national event.

The President declared May 12, 2025 a special (non-working) holiday through Proclamation 878 to enable the Filipino people to properly exercise their right to suffrage.

The holiday was recommended by the Comelec to give citizens ample time to vote and uphold the democratic process.