Now shifting to the Philippine midterm elections. On Monday, millions of Filipinos are going to vote in elections seen as a test of President Rodrigo Duterte's popularity. Their votes will determine whether Duterte can push forward his legislative agenda on switching from a unitary government system to a federal one. CGTN's Barnaby Lo has more from Manila.

At a recent student-organized event in the Philippine capital Manila, human rights lawyer and opposition Senatorial candidate Chel Diokno was introduced as the "Darling of Social Media". Among the youth, who make up more than a third of the country's voting population, he appears to have considerable support.

PAUL REDILLAS UNIVERSITY STUDENT "It's important that we have someone in the Senate who will truly represent the masses and who listens."

JOHN RAY DIONISIO UNIVERSITY STUDENT "A senator has to understand his people's needs. He must be compassionate and principled."

But Diokno, as well as other opposition candidates, has been trailing in surveys ahead of the May 13th midterm election.

RAMON CASIPLE POLITICAL ANALYST "You attack a popular president, you're basically committing political suicide. Then, again, Duterte's not running. You have to connect him or your criticisms of him to his candidates, which I think is very weak."

President Rodrigo Duterte's approval rating is the highest of any Philippine president halfway through a six-year term. Candidates allied with him, or those independent but not openly opposing him or his policies, are also faring well in surveys.

RAMON CASIPLE POLITICAL ANALYST "Many of them have capabilities in their own right by the standards of traditional politics to win. But of course if they're aligned with the president, it gives additional insurance."

BARNABY LO MANILA "All indications are that after the midterm election, President Duterte will have the numbers in both the lower and upper chambers of Congress to push forward his legislative agenda. Top of that is a switch from a unitary form of government to a federal one. There are concerns the government may lose its system of checks and balances, but analysts say alliances during elections aren't necessarily permanent. Barnaby Lo, CGTN, Manila."