FOR former senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, landing in the second spot in partial and unofficial results for in the senatorial elections came as a surprise as he ranked 24th to 28th in pre-elections surveys a year before the midterm elections last Monday.
Aquino said he would have been glad if he made it at least in the number 12 spot, considering he did not have enough campaign funds compared to other candidates.
“Siyempre nagulat kami with the high standing. Earlier today, we were hoping na sana mag eight tayo, mag nine or 10. Nakakatuwa itong mag number two and hitting very good results in many areas in Luzon and Visayas (Of course, we were surprised with the high standing. Earlier today [Monday] we were hoping that I land in the eighth or ninth, or even 10th position. It was very exciting that I placed second and hitting very good results in many areas in Luzon and Visayas),” Aquino said in an interview with ABS-CBN on Monday night in his campaign headquarters in Quezon City.
Aquino said the votes of the millennials and Gen Z, the endorsement of his former colleagues in the Senate, and that of local government executives, on top of the help of volunteers paved his way for a Senate comeback.
He said the same is true for former senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who remained in in the No. 5 spot in partial unofficial results as of last night.
“Special shoutout to the youth because a number of parents have been approaching me earlier, telling me that their children are really pushing for me. They want me to win. So, up to the end, the youth campaigned for me to their parents,” he said in Filipino.
Pangilinan said his and Aquino’s projected win is due to their effective messaging and the political divide between the Marcos administration and the Duterte camp.
Pangilinan said Aquino’s campaign promise of sure jobs for college graduates and free college education, and his “Hello Pagkain, Goodbye Gutom (goodbye to hunger due to sufficient food supply)” proved catchy during the campaign period.
Aquino said this year’s campaign period was a learning experience for him and Pangilinan — that hard work will pay in the end considering they have limited campaign funds.
“Parang wala kaming pangarap na mag top. (We didn’t dream to be at the top). I honestly thought that the highest would be six to eight … So, ito pong number na ito talagang unexpected talaga siya (So this number is really unexpected),” he said.
He said the endorsements of incumbent senators and local government officials were also a big factor to his Senate comeback.
He was referring to the support given by Senate President Francis Escudero, and Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Joel Villanueva, among others.
He also thanked movie industry personalities who endorsed his candidacy.
But, he also said, many of those who helped him and endorsed his candidacy were not politicians or from the entertainment industry.
“They were the ordinary Filipinos who want someone who will solve their problems. They are the ones who really helped us,” he said.
Aquino said he and Pangilinan will personally thank those who helped them before the 20th Congress opens on July 28.
DISINFORMATION DIDN’T WORK
Aquino said the people did not believe the disinformation peddled against him and Pangilinan on social media sites, especially when a lot of people were reportedly disgusted when he earned the endorsement of the Iglesia ni Cristo.
He said that was probably the reason he failed to make it to the top 12 in pre-elections surveys.
Aquino said he will not have a hard time working with the new and current members of the Senate, like when he was first elected as senator in 2013.
Pangilinan said the rift between the Marcos and administration and the Duterte camp made him and Aquino as alternative candidates.
Pangilinan also said he and Aquino are consulting Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros and incoming Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo, former vice president and Ferdinand Marcos Jr’ rival in the 2022 presidential elections, whether they will part of the opposition or in critical collaboration with the administration.
“The difficult task of fixing what’s broken in our country lies ahead. I think people are expecting us to deliver on our commitments that will require working together, setting aside any political animosities, atrocities,” he said.
GO: TRACK RECORD
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go thanked his supporters after he emerged top placer in the race, based on partial and unofficial election results.
In interviews with several platforms, Go said he was picked by millions of Filipinos due to his track record of always working for the interest of the people.
“My personal assessment is that Filipinos want a leader who works. Maybe they do not want someone who engages in trouble,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.
“So maybe, the message here is that we should buckle down to work,” he added.
Go said this year’s midterm election was “grueling,” considering that he and the rest of the PDP-Laban and guest candidates campaigned on their own because former president Rodrigo Duterte cannot help as he is detained at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity.
He said he worked hard during the campaign period, visiting remote areas to let the people know of his advocacies.
Go said that they did not even have a stage in some areas where they can woo voters.
Go also said he is sad a big number of their allies did not make it to the Top 12.
BATO: PEOPLE PROTESTED
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was No. 3 as of yesterday, said the people chose him anew as a form of protest against the “kidnapping” of former president Rodrigo Duterte.
“My inclusion in the top 12 is a result that came with a heavy price. It was the curtailed freedom of President Duterte that catapulted me in pre-election surveys after he was arrested and brought to The Hague,” he said in Filipino.
“We garnered a very high number of votes because these are protest votes coming from the people who are very much aggrieved about what happened to former president Duterte,” he added.
SARA DISAPPOINTED
Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday night expressed disappointment that only three of the 10 senatorial candidates of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) are likely to win Senate seats, and vowed to form a stronger “opposition” in the 20th Congress.
The vice president, however, did not mention that two other candidates that she and the PDP-Laban endorsed – reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar –, also made the Top 12.
“I acknowledge the results of the election and express my deep gratitude to all the supporters who stood with us throughout this journey.
While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, our commitment to the people remains unwavering,” she said in a statement.
Aside from Go and Dela Rosa, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta (PL, Sagip) also made it to the Top 12, at sixth spot.
The victory of her five allies has made it more difficult to secure a conviction in the vice president’s impeachment case, which will be tried by senators and will need the vote of two-thirds of all 24 members, or 16 votes.
The vice president will need the votes of nine senators to beat the pending Articles of Impeachment against her.
Duterte campaigned for the “Duterte10” in the absence of her father who is detained in The Hague.
“We will continue to hold the government accountable, advocate for the issues that matter, and work tirelessly to serve as a strong and constructive opposition,” she said.
“This is not the end — it’s a renewed beginning. We invite all citizens, regardless of background or past affiliation, to join us in building a powerful and principled opposition. Together, we can shape a future that is fair, inclusive, and just. Stand with us,” she added.
The start of the impeachment trial is set for July.
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
The administration’s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate said the victory of six of its 12 candidates is a “vote of confidence” for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his vision for a “Bagong Pilipinas” (New Philippines).
Alyansa campaign manager Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco said the administration’s ticket respects the people’s will, adding that its campaign was meant “to rally support for the election of senators who could bring their competence and experience to the Senate and help the administration in its efforts to uplift the welfare of our kababayans (citizens).”
“In this regard, we consider the victory of most of our candidates a vote of confidence in the Bagong Pilipinas vision of progress where all Filipinos can live better lives with real economic opportunities for all. Their vote affirms our shared commitment to continue the country’s economic gains and preserve the momentum of growth,” he said in a statement.
The six Alyansa candidates who made it to the Senate are Rep. Erwin Tulfo (PL, ACT-CIS), who got the fourth place; former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, seventh place; former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, eight place; re-electionist Sen. Pia Cayetano, ninth place; Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar, 10th place; and reelectionist Sen. Lito Lapid.
Villar, while allied with administration, accepted the endorsement of the vice president who has been at loggerheads with President Marcos since she broke away from their alliance in June last year.
“We view this as a clear signal to move forward with greater urgency and focus, guided by the aspirations of our people and committed to addressing the issues that concern them the most,” said Tiangco, who won his reelection bid.
Tiangco thanked the millions of Filipinos “who made their voices heard.” “We ran a clean campaign based on clear platforms, solid track records, and firm positions on real issues. No gimmicks. No shortcuts,” he said.
“Voters showed up with clarity and conviction. That alone is a win for democracy,” he said.
SOTTO GRATEFUL
Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III he was “deeply grateful to the Lord our God” for always standing by him “as I weathered the challenges of this election.”
“Maraming salamat sa mga supporters ko nguni’t hintayin na rin muna natin ang official tally ng Comelec which will start this morning (Tuesday) before we can truly say that we won after the official proclamation
(I would like to thank my supporters but it is best to wait for the official tally of Comelec which will start this (Tuesday) morning before we can truly say that we won, after the official proclamation),” Sotto said.
“My voters made history. The only senator elected five times,” he added.
COLLABORATION
Tulfo vowed to reach out to both pro and anti-administration senators, saying he is ready to work with both sides.
“What the Filipinos need to see is a collaborating crop of senators and public officials, so my first order of business once officially elected to the Senate is I will talk to both sides,” he said, “We will sit down together with the Senate President, the opposition, and everyone because we only have six years to keep our promises to the people.”
Tulfo, a former journalist who became social welfare secretary under the current administration, said having a united front in the Senate “is necessary in combatting poverty, improving the healthcare sector, generating jobs, upholding justice, and making education accessible.”
“We are at this point where we really must think of our next steps when it comes to work. We must make sure that we will not disappoint them and give them the service that they deserve from the government they elected,” he said.
FIGHT WILL CONTINUE
Despite failing to land a seat in the Senate, alternative opposition senatorial candidates Heidi Mendoza, Luke Espiritu, and Leody De Guzman vowed to continue their advocacies against corruption and for pro-people government policies.
In separate posts on their respective social media accounts, the three aspirants hailed their supporters and volunteer groups for putting up a good fight against the candidates fielded by well-funded political parties backed by President Marcos and former President Duterte.
De Guzman, who ran on a platform of fair wages and better protection for workers, said the more than four million votes he GOT is a manifestation of the people’s desire for a government that addresses their grievances.
“To all who believed and stood for the #ManggagawNaman campaign, thank you so much. The essence of my candidacy was to seek justice for the appalling condition of our workforce who only want a dignified living for their own families. The government can no longer ignore the worsening plight of majority of Filipinos,” he said.
CLEAN CAMPAIGN
Mendoza exhorted volunteer chapters in various provinces who campaigned for her to rest and regroup and to take pride in having waged a clean campaign even when targeted by threats and black propaganda.
For herself, for former Commission on Audit commissioner said she will try to get more sleeping time which she deprived herself during the campaign in order to make it to engagements.
She likewise reminded supporters to roll up and keep safe the tarpaulins they paid for during her Senate bid.
“Those are valuable me because they came from the honest toil of ordinary people. They are keepsakes to remind us that once, we dared Fate for a chance to forge reforms in our country’s politics,” Mendoza said.
She promised those who are in farther provinces that she will try to visit them all one by one after she has recovered enough to personally convey her gratitude for their trust.
“We will not end here. We will still maintain a close watch of taxpayers’ money. I will visit you all, starting in Cagayan de Oro. I hope we can all meet and swap stories even over a stick of isaw. We have no cause for grief but we have all the reasons to be thankful,” she added.
SURVEYS
Espiritu, a labor lawyer who ran with de Guzman under Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), blasted polling firms over the inaccurate survey results showing him near the bottom of the list of senatorial hopefuls.
“So far we have breached the six million (votes) mark. The SWS (Social Weather Station) and Pulse (Asia) surveys are beyond erroneous, they are anomalous. This makes me wonder: without the mind-conditioning emanating from being ranked very low, how many more votes would I have attracted?,” he lamented.
Nonetheless, he voiced gratitude to students organizations, civil society groups, friends, and local candidates who campaigned hard for him and de Guzman.
Espiritu said he was inspired upon being informed that his tally in this election was almost twice the total number of votes he earned during his first run for a Senate seat in 2022. – With Wendell Vigilia and Peter Tabingo
