MANILA -- (UPDATE) Millions in the Philippines endured long, sweltering queues to cast their votes in midterm elections that is expected to bring more of President Rodrigo Duterte's allies to the Senate and help him fulfill key campaign promises in his final 3 years in office.

Senior citizens, some in wheelchairs and crutches, fell in line as early as 3 a.m. to avoid the crush. There were reports of vote-buying and faulty counting machines that delayed the vote for some, including former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

A Pulse Asia poll released last Saturday showed that only one opposition candidate had a statistical chance of winning one of 12 Senate seats up for grabs, plus 3 others who were neither with the opposition nor with the administration. Eight to 9 administration candidates had an inside track in getting elected.

Duterte's efforts to shift to a federal form of government, restore the death penalty, and cut corporate income taxes have stalled in the chamber due to lack of support.

"That's why we really worked hard during this campaign para ma-present sa mga tao kung sino yung mga senators na nakakaintindi kung ano ang vision ng ating Presidente at hopefully, bobotohan nila," said the President's eldest daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio.

(That's why we really worked hard during this campaign to present to the people the senators who understand the President's vision and hopefully, vote for them.)

Duterte-Carpio mobilized her regional party, Hugpong ng Pagbabago, and endorsed 13 candidates. The President's own PDP-Laban has a separate set of candidates, most of whom are also endorsed by Hugpong.

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EAGER SENIORS

In Manila, laundrywoman Carmencita Isidro, 77, camped out at a polling precinct gate at 3 a.m. and was ready with a cheat sheet she prepared 3 days earlier.

"Excited na ako. Gusto ko na bumoto pero ayaw nila ako papasukin," Isidro told ABS-CBN News, while browsing through a voters' list to find her assigned precinct.

(I'm excited. I want to vote now but they won't let me in.)

"Pinag-isipan ko talaga. Yung mga senador lang gusto ko. Kumpleto lahat," said Isidro, who left her home in Caloocan before midnight to vote in Tondo, where she is registered.

(I thought hard about this. I only want to vote for senators. I have a complete list.)

In Dumaguete City, 102-year-old Rufina dela Peña arrived at the precinct on a wheelchair and was assisted by her daughter-in-law, Rosalinda dela Peña.

The centenarian said she voted to help the country and to keep her name on the voters' list.

"Despite the heat, I really wanted to vote. That’s my right," said Jainne Lapitan, a voter in Panabo, Davao del Norte.

“Inagahan ko na, kasi pag mataas ang araw hindi na ako makakita. Tutulungan naman nila ako bumoto sa loob, no?”

Toclong ES’s Voter #1: the smiling Candelaria Paredes, who sat patiently despite 30-min delay in the start of voting in Imus, Cavite. #Halalan2019 | @chiarazambrano pic.twitter.com/OFpCf3PlVe

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 12, 2019

Early birds are venting out frustration over the delay in Sagonsongan #Halalan2019 | via @jeffcanoy #HalalanAberya pic.twitter.com/dtGN2fI4No

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 12, 2019

MACHINE MALFUNCTIONS

In Makati, the vote-counting machine refused to accept former Vice President Binay's ballot on the first few tries, prompting him to complain before the Commission on Elections. He was able to vote eventually.

"There's something wrong... Hindi ako makaboto. Wala ba kayong solusyon diyan?" Binay said after the vote-counting machine or VCM refused to accept his ballot.

(There's something wrong... I can't vote. Don't you have a solution?)

Television host Karla Estrada, mother of popular actor Daniel Padilla, posted on Instagram that she could not vote because of a broken machine.

"Waiting sa pila para bumoto! sira ang machine ng precinct namin kaya tulala lang kami dito sa pila! Pati pag boto sakripisyo! Kaya kayong mga mahahalal galingan n’yo talaga!!!" she said.

(Waiting in line to vote. The machine in our precinct is broken that's why we're stuck in line. Even voting is a sacrifice. That's why whoever is elected, do your job well.)

It was the fourth general election to use automated counting, the first of which was in 2010. Under the Philippine system, voters shade ovals in ballots that are fed into counting machines. The machines will later transmit the results electronically.

12 HOURS TO VOTE

Throngs of voters, some carrying cheat sheets to help them fill out a huge ballot, descended onto polling precincts, which opened at 6 a.m. Voting is scheduled to close at 6 p.m.

Opposition candidates Mar Roxas and Sen. Bam Aquino and Sen. Koko Pimentel from the President's PDP-Laban party were among the early voters.

Only Aquino, who is seeking reelection, had a statistical chance of winning, according to a the last pre-election survey of Pulse Asia conducted on May 3-6 by independent polling firm Pulse Asia. Two other senators seeking reelection, Cynthia Villar and Grace Poe, topped the survey.

Brothers JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada, sons of former President and Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, are among those slugging it out for the bottom slots, according to the Pulse Asia poll.

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Duterte's long-time aide, former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, placed fourth in the poll, behind former Sen. Pia Cayetano, who is seeking a return to the chamber.

• The rise of Bong Go

TINGNAN: Siksikan at pawisan ang mga botante sa extension room ng Jose R. Torres Elementary School sa Barangay Singcang-Airport, Negros Occidental dahil sa mahabang pila matapos magkaproblema ang VCMs sa Precinct 254. | Yasmin Pascual-Dormido, ABS-CBN News pic.twitter.com/cwQYica5JI

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 12, 2019

Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, daughter of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, and Duterte's former national police chief, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who was at the forefront of his drug war, also had a statistical chance of winning.

Roxas, who topped the senatorial race in 2004, was tied at the 16th to 17th spot with former Sen. Sergio Osmena III. Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile was at 18th to 19th place.

Authorities received reports of vote-buying in the run-up to Monday's vote. The official campaign ended last Saturday.

The military and the police are also on alert, with some 900 areas identified as "hotspots" due to potential violence. Since January, authorities recorded 14 dead and 14 wounded in "election-related violent incidents."

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