MANILA -- Candidates backed by President Rodrigo Duterte were in an upbeat mood on Tuesday as they kicked off a three-month campaign for the Philippines' midterm elections.
Members of political dynasties and close allies of the president are among the candidates backed by Duterte in the race for half of the country's 24 Senate seats. Nine of 15 candidates seen as able to win seats in the May 13 poll are supported by the president, according to research company Pulse Asia.
