Philippine senatorial elections

Elections to the Senate of the Philippines are done via plurality-at-large voting; a voter can vote for up to twelve candidates, with the twelve candidates with the highest number of votes being elected. The 24-member Senate uses staggered elections, with only one-half of its members up for election at any given time, except for special elections, which are always held concurrently with regularly scheduled elections.[1]

The Senate, when it existed, met at the Old Legislative Building from 1918 to 1941, from 1949 to 1973, and from 1987 to 1997.
The building that the Senate shares with the Government Service Insurance System since 1998.

Manner of choosing candidates

With the advent of the nominal multi-party system in 1987, political parties have been able to muster enough candidates to fill their 12-person ticket. This means they have to join coalitions or alliances in order to present a full slate. If a slate is still not complete, guest candidates may be invited, even from rival slates. A guest candidate may not be compelled to join the campaign rallies of the slate that invited him/her. A party may even not include their entire ticket to a coalition slate, or assign their candidates to competing slates. A candidate may defect from one slate to another or be unaffiliated with any slate while the campaign is ongoing. The Commission on Elections uses the names of the political parties on the ballot.

Once elected, the parties involved in the different slates may form alliances with one another totally different from the alliances prior to the election.

In Third Republic elections under the nominal two-party system, the Liberal Party and the Nacionalista Party often presented complete 8-person tickets; a party may even exceed the 8-person slate due to perceived popularity. The first instance of having guest candidates was on 1955, when the opposition Liberals adopted Claro M. Recto of the Nacionalista Party, who had also opposed the presidency of Ramon Magsaysay. Parties having guest candidates was seen as a weakness of finding candidates within their ranks.[2]

Manner of election

1916 to 1935

Map of the senatorial districts.

From 1916 to 1934, the country was divided into 12 senatorial districts. Eleven of these districts elected two senators each. In 1916, each district elected two senators (plurality-at-large): one was to serve a six-year term, the other a three-year term. On each election thereafter, one seat per district was up (first past the post). The senators from the 12th district were appointed by the American governor-general for no fixed term.[3]

In 1935, the electorate approved in a plebiscite a new constitution that abolished the Senate and instituted a unicameral National Assembly of the Philippines. The members of the Constitutional Convention originally wanted bicameralism but could not agree on how the senators shall be elected: via the senatorial districts or being nationally elected.[4]

1941 to 1949

The electorate in 1940 approved in a plebiscite amendments to the constitution that restored the bicameral Congress of the Philippines, including the Senate. Elections for the Senate were held on every second Monday of November of every odd-numbered year; however, the old senatorial districts were not used anymore; instead, the 24-member Senate was to be elected on a nationwide at-large basis.[4] As the first election in the new setup, the voters in the 1941 election voted for 24 senators. However, they were also given the option of writing the party's name on the ballot, wherein all of the candidates of the party would receive votes. With the 24 candidates with the most votes winning in the election, the ruling Nacionalista Party won all 24 seats in a landslide victory. The winners included Rafael Martinez, who replaced Norberto Romualdez, who died the day before the election; Martinez won because of voters who had selected the party, rather than specifying a particular candidate.[5]

Due to World War II, Congress was not able to convene until June 1945. President Sergio Osmeña called for special sessions to convene the 1st Congress of the Commonwealth of the Philippines until elections could be organized. Originally, to observe the staggered terms, the eight candidates with the most votes were to serve for eight years, the next eight for four years, and still the next eight for two years. However, several members had died and others were disqualified because they were charged with collaboration with the Japanese, so the Senate conducted a lottery to determine which senators would serve until 1946 and which would serve until 1947.[6] In the 1946 election, voters elected 16 senators; the first eight candidates with the highest number of votes were to serve until 1951, the next eight were to serve until 1949.[3]

1951 to 1971

The Senate chamber at the Old Congress building: Cipriano P. Primicias, Sr., far left, debates Quintín Paredes, far right. In the center are, from left to right, Justiniano Montano, Mariano Jesús Cuenco, Enrique B. Magalona, and Francisco Delgado. In the foreground is Edmundo Cea.

Electoral reform enacted in 1951 eliminated block voting, which had given voters the option of writing the party's name on the ballot. In a 1951 election, voters voted for eight senators for the first time and each voter had to write at most eight names for senator (writing the party's name would result in a spoiled vote). Noting that after the elimination of block voting, many people voted for a split ticket, political scientist David Wurfel has remarked that "The electoral reform of 1951 was thus one of the most important institutional changes in the postwar Philippines, making the life of the opposition easier."[5]

On September 23, 1972, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and assumed legislative powers. In a 1973 plebiscite, the electorate approved a new constitution that abolished Congress and replaced it with a unicameral National Assembly, which would ultimately be the Batasang Pambansa (parliament).[3]

1987 to present

The GSIS building: The Senate session hall.

Marcos was overthrown as a result of the 1986 People Power Revolution. The new president, Corazon Aquino, appointed a Constitutional Commission to write a new constitution. The electorate approved the constitution in 1987, restoring the bicameral Congress. Instead of electing 8 senators every two years, the new constitution provided that 12 senators would be elected every three years. As part of the transitory provisions, the voters elected 24 senators in the 1987 election, to serve until 1992. In the 1992 election, the voters still voted for 24 candidates, but the first 12 candidates with the most votes were to serve until 1998, while the next 12 were to serve only until 1995. Thereafter, 12 candidates are elected every second Monday of May every third year since 1995.[7]

Summary

ElectionsElectedSeats per
district
DistrictsTotal
seats
19162221124
19191111124
19221211224
19251211224
19281211224
19311211224
19341211224
Senate abolished from 1935 to 1941. Senators elected in 1941 will not serve until 1945.
194124124124
194616216124
194788124
194988124
1951939124
195388124
1955949124
195788124
195988124
196188124
196388124
196588124
196788124
196988124
197188124
Senate abolished from 1972 to 1987.
19872424124
199224524124
19951212124
19981212124
200113613124
20041212124
20071212124
20101212124
20131212124
20161212124
20191212124
^1 Out of the 24 senators-elect, the first eight candidates with the highest number of votes will serve for six years, the next eight for four years, and the next eight for two years. However, this was not followed due to the intervention of World War II.
^2 Out of the 16 senators-elect, the first eight candidates with the highest number of votes will serve for six years, and the next eight for four years.
^3 A special election for the seat vacated by Fernando Lopez who was elected vice president on 1949 was held.
^4 A special election for the seat vacated by Carlos P. Garcia who was elected vice president on 1953 was held.
^5 Out of the 24 senators-elect, the first twelve candidates with the highest number of votes will serve for six years, and the next twelve for three years.
^6 Teofisto Guingona, Jr. was appointed vice president on 2001; the thirteenth-placed candidate in the election will serve for Guingona's unexpired term of three years.[8]

List of results

Senatorial districts era

ElectionNacionalistaProgresistaDemocrataCollectivistaPro-
Independencia
ConsolidatoIndependentsTotal
1916221124
1919211224
19221253424
19255836224
1928240324
193164212
1934617124

At-large era

Since the at-large era, a high-scoring winner can be seen as a strong contender for a future presidential or vice-presidential bid.[1]

In this table, the "administration" ticket is the ticket supported by the sitting president. In 1992, Corazon Aquino who was nominally supporting the LDP, supported the presidential candidacy of Fidel V. Ramos of Lakas, making the "administration ticket" ambiguous.

  • Key: Darker shade was a midterm election. Boldface denotes the party that won at least majority of the seats contested.
ElectionTopnotcherPartyFuture election to higher office resultResult (Party/coalition totals)[9]
Administration ticketPrimary opposition ticketOthers
1941Claro M. RectoNacionalistaLost 1957 presidential election24 Nacionalistas
1946Vicente FranciscoNacionalista (Liberal wing)Lost 1949 vice presidential election7 Nacionalistas8 Nacionalistas (Liberal wing)1 Popular Front
1947Lorenzo TañadaLiberalLost 1957 vice presidential election6 Liberals2 Nacionalistas
1949Quintin ParedesLiberal8 Liberals
1951José P. LaurelNacionalista9 Nacionalistas
1953Fernando LopezDemocraticWon 1965 vice presidential election5 Nacionalistas2 Democrats
1 Citizens'
1955Pacita Madrigal-WarnsNacionalista9 Nacionalistas
1957Gil PuyatNacionalista6 Nacionalistas2 Liberals
1959Ferdinand MarcosLiberalWon 1965 presidential election
Won 1969 presidential election
Won 1981 presidential election
Victory at the 1986 presidential election disputed
5 Nacionalistas2 Liberals1 NCP
1961Raul ManglapusProgressive2 Nacionalistas4 Liberals2 Progressives
1963Gerardo RoxasLiberalLost 1965 vice presidential election4 Liberals4 Nacionalistas
1965Jovito SalongaLiberalLost 1992 presidential election2 Liberals5 Nacionalistas1 NCP
1967Jose RoyNacionalista6 Nacionalistas1 Liberal1 independent
1969Arturo TolentinoNacionalistaVictory at the 1986 vice presidential election disputed6 Nacionalistas2 Liberals
1971Jovito SalongaLiberal(see 1965)2 Nacionalistas6 Liberals
Senate abolished from 1972 to 1987.
1987Jovito SalongaLABAN(see 1965)22 LABAN2 GAD
1992Tito SottoLDPTBD16 LDP5 NPC2 Lakas
1 Liberal/PDP-Laban
1995Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoLDPWon 1998 vice presidential election
Won 2004 presidential election
9 Lakas-Laban3 NPC
1998Loren LegardaLakas-NUCD-UMDPLost 2004 vice presidential election
Lost 2010 vice presidential election
5 Lakas7 LAMMP
2001Noli de CastroIndependentWon 2004 vice presidential election8 PPC4 Puwersa ng Masa1 independent
2004Mar RoxasLiberalLost 2010 vice presidential election
Lost 2016 presidential election
7 K-45 KNP
2007Loren LegardaNPC(see 1998)2 Team Unity8 GO2 Independents
2010Bong RevillaLakas-KampiTBD 2 Lakas-Kampi3 Liberals2 Nacionalistas
2 PMP
1 PRP
1 NPC
1 Independent
2013Grace PoeIndependentLost 2016 presidential election9 Team PNoy3 UNA
2016Franklin DrilonLiberalTBD5 Liberals1 UNA3 Independents
2 NPC
1 Akbayan
2019Cynthia VillarNacionalistaTBD9 HNP1 Independent
1 NPC
1 UNA

Latest elections

2019

 Summary of the May 13, 2019 Philippine Senate election results
#CandidateCoalition PartyVotes%
1.Cynthia VillarHNP Nacionalista25,283,72753.46%
2.Grace Poe Independent22,029,78846.58%
3.Bong GoHNP PDP–Laban20,657,70242.35%
4.Pia CayetanoHNP Nacionalista19,789,01941.84%
5.Ronald dela RosaHNP PDP–Laban19,004,22540.18%
6.Sonny AngaraHNP LDP18,161,86238.40%
7.Lito Lapid NPC16,965,46435.87%
8.Imee MarcosHNP Nacionalista15,882,62833.58%
9.Francis TolentinoHNP PDP–Laban15,510,02632.79%
10.Koko PimentelHNP PDP–Laban14,668,66531.01%
11.Bong RevillaHNP Lakas14,624,44530.92%
12.Nancy BinayUNA UNA14,504,93630.67%
13.JV EjercitoHNP NPC14,313,72730.26%
14.Bam AquinoOtso Diretso Liberal14,144,92329.91%
15.Jinggoy EstradaHNP PMP11,359,30524.02%
16.Mar RoxasOtso Diretso Liberal9,843,28820.81%
17.Serge Osmeña Independent9,455,20219.99%
18.Willie Ong Lakas7,616,26516.12%
19.Dong MangudadatuHNP PDP–Laban7,499,60415.86%
20.Jiggy ManicadHNP Independent6,896,88914.58%
21.Chel DioknoOtso Diretso Liberal6,342,93913.41%
22.Juan Ponce Enrile PMP5,319,29811.25%
23.Gary AlejanoOtso Diretso Liberal4,726,6529.99%
24.Neri ColmenaresLabor Win Makabayan4,683,9429.90%
25.Samira GutocOtso Diretso Liberal4,345,2529.19%
26.Romulo MacalintalOtso Diretso Independent4,007,3398.47%
27.Erin TañadaOtso Diretso Liberal3,870,5298.18%
28.Larry Gadon KBL3,487,7807.37%
29.Florin HilbayOtso Diretso Aksyon2,757,8795.83%
30.Freddie Aguilar Independent2,580,2305.46%
31.Glenn Chong KDP2,534,3355.36%
32.Raffy Alunan Bagumbayan2,059,3594.35%
33.Faisal MangondatoKKK Independent1,988,7194.20%
34.Agnes EscuderoKKK Independent1,545,9853.27%
35.Dado Padilla PFP1,095,3372.32%
36.Ernesto ArellanoKKK, Labor Win Independent937,7132.30%
37.Allan MontañoLabor Win Independent923,4192.25%
38.Leody de GuzmanLabor Win PLM893,5062.17%
39.Melchor Chavez PMM764,4732.06%
40.Vanjie AbejoKKK Independent656,0062.00%
41.Toti Casiño KDP580,8531.97%
42.Abner Afuang PMM559,0011.92%
43.Shariff Albani PMM496,8551.87%
44.Dan RoledaUNA UNA469,8401.80%
45.Ding GenerosoKKK Independent449,7851.75%
46.Lady Ann Sahidulla KDP444,0961.68%
47.Abraham Jangao Independent434,6971.65%
48.Marcelino Arias PMM404,5131.59%
49.Richard AlfajoraKKK Independent404,5131.57%
50.Sonny MatulaLabor Win PMM400,3391.50%
51.Elmer Francisco PFP395,4271.45%
52.Joan Sheelah NalliwKKK Independent390,1651.38%
53.Gerald Arcega PMM383,7491.30%
54.Butch Valdes KDP367,8511.20%
55.Jesus CaceresKKK Independent358,4720.90%
56.Bernard Austria PDSP347,0130.70%
57.Jonathan Baldevarona Independent310,4110.67%
58.Emily MallillinKKK Independent304,2150.64%
59.Charlie GaddiKKK Independent286,3610.50%
60.RJ Javellana KDP258,5380.47%
61.Junbert Guigayuma PMM240,3060.40%
62.Luther Meniano PMM159,7740.30%
Total turnout47,296,44274.31%
Total votes361,551,157N/A
Registered voters63,643,263100.0%
Reference: Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.

    2016

     Summary of the May 9, 2016 Philippine Senate election results
    Rank Candidate Party Votes %
    1.Franklin Drilon Liberal18,607,39141.52%
    2.Joel Villanueva Liberal18,459,22241.39%
    3.Tito Sotto NPC17,200,37138.51%
    4.Panfilo Lacson Independent16,926,15237.82%
    5.Richard J. Gordon Independent16,719,32237.28%
    6.Juan Miguel Zubiri Independent16,119,16535.87%
    7.Manny Pacquiao UNA16,050,54635.67%
    8.Francis Pangilinan Liberal15,955,94935.56%
    9.Risa Hontiveros Akbayan15,915,21335.53%
    10.Win Gatchalian NPC14,953,76833.58%
    11.Ralph Recto Liberal14,271,86831.79%
    12.Leila de Lima Liberal14,144,07031.55%
    13.Francis Tolentino Independent12,811,09828.64%
    14.Serge Osmeña Independent12,670,61528.20%
    15.Martin Romualdez Lakas12,325,82427.60%
    16.Isko Moreno PMP11,126,94424.95%
    17.TG Guingona Liberal10,331,15722.92%
    18.Jericho Petilla Liberal7,046,58015.77%
    19.Mark Lapid Aksyon6,594,19014.71%
    20.Neri Colmenares Makabayan6,484,98514.48%
    21.Edu Manzano Independent5,269,53911.69%
    22.Roman Romulo Independent4,824,48410.79%
    23.Susan Ople Nacionalista2,775,1916.07%
    24.Alma Moreno UNA2,432,2245.42%
    25.Greco Belgica Independent2,100,9854.62%
    26.Raffy Alunan Independent2,032,3624.45%
    27.Larry Gadon KBL1,971,3274.40%
    28.Rey Langit UNA1,857,6304.12%
    29.Lorna Kapunan Aksyon1,838,9784.03%
    30.Dionisio Santiago Independent1,828,3054.02%
    31.Samuel Pagdilao Independent1,755,9493.91%
    32.Melchor Chavez PMM1,736,8223.85%
    33.Getulio Napeñas UNA1,719,5763.82%
    34.Ina Ambolodto Liberal1,696,5583.62%
    35.Allan Montaño UNA1,605,0733.56%
    36.Walden Bello Independent1,091,1942.41%
    37.Jacel Kiram UNA995,6732.12%
    38.Shariff Albani Independent905,6101.94%
    39.Jovito Palparan Independent855,2971.87%
    40.Cresente Paez Independent808,6231.80%
    41.Sandra Cam PMP805,7561.77%
    42.Dante Liban Independent782,2491.72%
    43.Ramon Montaño Independent759,2631.68%
    44.Aldin Ali PMM733,8381.56%
    45.Romeo Maganto Lakas731,0211.60%
    46.Godofredo Arquiza Independent680,5501.50%
    47.Levi Baligod Independent596,5831.31%
    48.Diosdado Valeroso Independent527,1461.16%
    49.Ray Dorona Independent495,1911.09%
    50.Eid Kabalu Independent379,8460.81%
    Total turnout44,979,15180.69%
    Total votes319,308,507N/A
    Registered voters55,739,911100%
    Reference: Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.[10][11]

    2013

     Summary of the May 13, 2013 Philippine Senate election results
    #CandidateCoalition PartyVotes%
    1.Grace PoeTeam PNoy Independent20,337,32750.66%
    2.Loren LegardaTeam PNoy NPC18,661,19646.49%
    3.Alan Peter CayetanoTeam PNoy Nacionalista17,580,81343.79%
    4.Francis EscuderoTeam PNoy Independent17,502,35843.60%
    5.Nancy BinayUNA UNA16,812,14841.88%
    6.Sonny AngaraTeam PNoy LDP16,005,56439.87%
    7.Bam AquinoTeam PNoy Liberal15,534,46538.70%
    8.Koko PimentelTeam PNoy PDP–Laban14,725,11436.68%
    9.Antonio TrillanesTeam PNoy Nacionalista14,127,72235.19%
    10.Cynthia VillarTeam PNoy Nacionalista13,822,85434.43%
    11.JV EjercitoUNA UNA13,684,73634.09%
    12.Gregorio HonasanUNA UNA13,211,42432.91%
    13.Richard J. GordonUNA UNA12,501,99131.14%
    14.Juan Miguel ZubiriUNA UNA11,821,13429.45%
    15.Jack EnrileUNA NPC11,543,02428.75%
    16.Ramon Magsaysay Jr.Team PNoy Liberal11,356,73928.29%
    17.Risa HontiverosTeam PNoy Akbayan10,944,84327.26%
    18.Edward HagedornNot affiliated Independent8,412,84020.96%
    19.Eddie VillanuevaNot affiliated Bangon Pilipinas6,932,98517.27%
    20.Jamby MadrigalTeam PNoy Liberal6,787,74416.91%
    21.Mitos MagsaysayUNA UNA5,620,42914.00%
    22.Teodoro CasiñoMakabayan Makabayan4,295,15110.70%
    23.Ernesto MacedaUNA UNA3,453,1218.60%
    24.Tingting CojuangcoUNA UNA3,152,9397.85%
    25.Samson AlcantaraNot affiliatedSocial Justice Society1,240,1043.09%
    26.John Carlos de los ReyesNot affiliated Ang Kapatiran1,238,2803.08%
    27.Greco BelgicaNot affiliated DPP1,128,9242.81%
    28.Ricardo PensonNot affiliated Independent1,040,2932.59%
    29.Ramon MontañoNot affiliated Independent1,040,1312.59%
    30.Rizalito DavidNot affiliated Ang Kapatiran1,035,9712.58%
    31.Christian SeñeresNot affiliated DPP706,1981.76%
    32.Marwil LlasosNot affiliated Ang Kapatiran701,3901.75%
    33.Baldomero FalconeNot affiliated DPP665,8451.66%
    Total turnout40,144,20775.77%
    Total votes297,625,797N/A
    Registered voters, including overseas voters52,982,173100.00%
    Reference: Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.[12]

      References

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      2. Quezon, Manolo (2013-05-11). "The Great Divide: The midterm election of 2013 (Part 1)". Manuel L. Quezon III. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
      3. "History of the Senate". Official website of the Senate. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
      4. Quezon, Manuel III (2009-06-15). "Reviewing the prewar plebiscites". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
      5. Quezon, Manuel III (2006-11-20). "Block voting". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
      6. Quezon, Manuel III (2008-04-10). "Senate the victim of a design flaw". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
      7. R., Lazo (2009). Philippine governance and the 1987 constitution. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 978-971-23-4546-3.
      8. Araneta, Sandy (2001-07-24). "It's final: Honasan is No. 13". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
      9. Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann, eds. (2001). Elections in Asia and the Pacific: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific. Oxford University Press. pp. 223–224. ISBN 978-0-19-924959-6.
      10. Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (2016-05-19). "NBOC Resolution No. 007-16" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-05-22.
      11. Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (2016-05-19). "2016 Official Senatorial Election Results". Rappler. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
      12. Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (2019-07-05). "NBOC Resolution No. 0010-13". Retrieved 2019-07-14.
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