Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he hasn't lost an election in his three-decade political career. He's hoping his candidates for the midterm vote on Monday will continue that winning streak as voters assess his three years in office.
Even with slowing economic growth and controversial policies including a deadly drug war, the firebrand leader is poised for a majority win in both houses of Congress. Over 18,000 government positions are up for grabs in the midterm elections, including half of the 24-seat Senate and about 300 posts in the House.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. local time, with Duterte scheduled to vote in his hometown in Davao City. Tensions were high across the country hours before the election. Late-night explosions were reported in the southern island in Mindanao, where no one was hurt. There were also early reports of glitches in vote machines.