As the Philippines gears up for the 2025 Senate elections, candidates aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are currently leading in the polls. Marcos unveiled his slate of 12 candidates on September 26, 2024, with nine of them showing strong support in the latest Pulse Asia survey [cd1ff4c4]. Notably, Imee Marcos, the president's sister, has announced her independent candidacy after missing the party convention, adding an interesting dynamic to the race [cd1ff4c4].
In contrast, former President Rodrigo Duterte's popularity has seen a decline, placing him sixth in the current rankings, which reflects shifting voter sentiments [cd1ff4c4]. The election landscape is further complicated by a controversy surrounding the disqualification of Smartmatic as the voting technology provider. Instead, Miru Systems is set to lease voting machines for a hefty 17.98 billion pesos (approximately US$321 million), raising questions about the integrity and reliability of the electoral process [cd1ff4c4].
For the first time, internet voting will be allowed for overseas Filipinos, a significant development aimed at increasing participation among the diaspora [cd1ff4c4]. Additionally, there will be increased scrutiny on the social media accounts of candidates to combat disinformation, reflecting a growing concern over the impact of misinformation on the electoral process [cd1ff4c4].
As the election date approaches, the political dynamics in the Philippines continue to evolve, with the Marcos administration's influence being tested against the backdrop of technological controversies and changing public opinions.