Philippines’ Duterte faces key poll test

Voting is under way in the Philippines, in mid-term polls seen as a popularity test for President Rodrigo Duterte after his first three years in office.

Gaining a Senate majority would allow him to push for constitutional changes and restore the death penalty.

Some 61 million people from more than 7,000 islands are registered to vote in provincial, city and national polls, according to BBC News.

Voting began at 06:00 local time (2200 GMT Sunday) and polls will close at 18:00.

Several of Mr Duterte's children are standing for regional offices, including his daughter Sara who is seeking re-election as mayor of Davao.

Her father governed the city for much of the time since the late 1980s, before becoming president in 2016.

Sara Duterte is tipped by some as her father's potential successor in 2022.

One of the president's sons, Sebastian, is running unopposed for vice mayor of Davao, while his eldest son Paolo is seeking a seat in the House of Representatives.