Philippine senatorial elections

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 1997.

Elections to the Senate of the Philippines is 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]

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.

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.

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

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.[2]

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.[3]

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.[3] 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 number of 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.[4]

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.[5] In the 1946 election, voters elected 16 senators; the first eight candidates with the highest amount of votes were to serve until 1951, the next eight were to serve until 1949.[2]

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 the 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."[4]

In September 1973, President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law and assumed legislative powers. In the 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).[2]

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 number of 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.[6]

Summary

Election results by number of seats from 1916 to the present. Note that some senators may switch to another party mid-term.
Election results by total votes from 1946 to the present.
Elections Elected Seats per
district 		Districts Total
seats
1916 22 2 11 24
1919 11 1 11 24
1922 12 1 12 24
1925 12 1 12 24
1928 12 1 12 24
1931 12 1 12 24
1934 12 1 12 24
Senate abolished from 1935 to 1941. Senators elected in 1941 will not serve until 1945.
1941 241 24 1 24
1946 162 16 1 24
1947 8 8 1 24
1949 8 8 1 24
1951 93 9 1 24
1953 8 8 1 24
1955 94 9 1 24
1957 8 8 1 24
1959 8 8 1 24
1961 8 8 1 24
1963 8 8 1 24
1965 8 8 1 24
1967 8 8 1 24
1969 8 8 1 24
1971 8 8 1 24
Senate abolished from 1972 to 1987.
1987 24 24 1 24
1992 245 24 1 24
1995 12 12 1 24
1998 12 12 1 24
2001 136 13 1 24
2004 12 12 1 24
2007 12 12 1 24
2010 12 12 1 24
2013 12 12 1 24
^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.[7]

List of results

Senatorial districts era

Election Nacionalista Progresista Democrata Collectivista Pro-
Independencia 		Consolidato Independents Total
1916 22 1 1 24
1919 21 1 2 24
1922 12 5 3 4 24
1925 5 8 3 6 2 24
1928 24 0 3 24
1931 6 4 2 12
1934 6 17 1 24

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.

Election Topnotcher Party Future election to higher office result Result (Party/coalition totals)[8]
Administration ticket Primary opposition ticket Others
1941 Claro M. Recto Nacionalista Lost 1957 presidential election 24 Nacionalistas
1946 Vicente Francisco Nacionalista (Liberal wing) Lost 1949 vice presidential election 7 Nacionalistas 8 Nacionalistas (Liberal wing) 1 Popular Front
1947 Lorenzo Tañada Liberal Lost 1957 vice presidential election 6 Liberals 2 Nacionalistas
1949 Quintin Paredes Liberal 8 Liberals
1951 José P. Laurel Nacionalista 9 Nacionalistas
1953 Fernando Lopez Democratic Won 1965 vice presidential election 5 Nacionalistas 2 Democrats
1 Citizens'
1955 Pacita Madrigal-Warns Nacionalista 9 Nacionalistas
1957 Gil Puyat Nacionalista 6 Nacionalistas 2 Liberals
1959 Ferdinand Marcos Liberal Won 1965 presidential election
Won 1969 presidential election
Won 1981 presidential election
Victory at the 1986 presidential election disputed 		5 Nacionalistas 2 Liberals 1 NCP
1961 Raul Manglapus Progressive 2 Nacionalistas 4 Liberals 2 Progressives
1963 Gerardo Roxas Liberal Lost 1965 vice presidential election 4 Liberals 4 Nacionalistas
1965 Jovito Salonga Liberal Lost 1992 presidential election 2 Liberals 5 Nacionalistas 1 NCP
1967 Jose Roy Nacionalista 6 Nacionalistas 1 Liberal 1 independent
1969 Arturo Tolentino Nacionalista Victory at the 1986 vice presidential election disputed 6 Nacionalistas 2 Liberals
1971 Jovito Salonga Liberal (see 1965) 2 Nacionalistas 6 Liberals
1987 Jovito Salonga LABAN (see 1965) 22 LABAN 2 GAD
1992 Vicente Sotto III LDP TBD 16 LDP 5 NPC 2 Lakas
1 Liberal/PDP-Laban
1995 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo LDP Won 1998 vice presidential election
Won 2004 presidential election 		9 Lakas-Laban 3 NPC
1998 Loren Legarda Lakas-NUCD-UMDP Lost 2004 vice presidential election
Lost 2010 vice presidential election 		5 Lakas 7 LAMMP
2001 Noli de Castro Independent Won 2004 vice presidential election 8 PPC 5 Puwersa ng Masa 1 independent
2004 Mar Roxas Liberal Lost 2010 vice presidential election
Lost 2016 presidential election 		7 K-4 5 KNP
2007 Loren Legarda NPC (see 1998) 2 Team Unity 8 GO 2 Independents
2010 Bong Revilla Lakas-Kampi TBD 2 Lakas-Kampi 3 Liberals 2 Nacionalistas
2 PMP
1 PRP
1 NPC
1 Independent
2013 Grace Poe Independent Lost 2016 presidential election 9 Team PNoy 3 UNA
2016 Franklin Drilon Liberal TBD 5 Liberals 1 UNA 3 Independents
2 NPC
1 Akbayan

Latest elections

2016

 Summary of the May 9, 2016 Philippine Senate election results
Rank Candidate Party Votes %
1. Franklin Drilon Liberal 18,607,391 41.52%
2. Joel Villanueva Liberal 18,459,222 41.39%
3. Tito Sotto NPC 17,200,371 38.51%
4. Panfilo Lacson Independent 16,926,152 37.82%
5. Richard J. Gordon Independent 16,719,322 37.28%
6. Juan Miguel Zubiri Independent 16,119,165 35.87%
7. Manny Pacquiao UNA 16,050,546 35.67%
8. Francis Pangilinan Liberal 15,955,949 35.56%
9. Risa Hontiveros Akbayan 15,915,213 35.53%
10. Win Gatchalian NPC 14,953,768 33.58%
11. Ralph Recto Liberal 14,271,868 31.79%
12. Leila de Lima Liberal 14,144,070 31.55%
13. Francis Tolentino Independent 12,811,098 28.64%
14. Sergio Osmeña III Independent 12,670,615 28.20%
15. Martin Romualdez Lakas 12,325,824 27.60%
16. Isko Moreno PMP 11,126,944 24.95%
17. TG Guingona Liberal 10,331,157 22.92%
18. Jericho Petilla Liberal 7,046,580 15.77%
19. Mark Lapid Aksyon 6,594,190 14.71%
20. Neri Colmenares Makabayan 6,484,985 14.48%
21. Edu Manzano Independent 5,269,539 11.69%
22. Roman Romulo Independent 4,824,484 10.79%
23. Susan Ople Nacionalista 2,775,191 6.07%
24. Alma Moreno UNA 2,432,224 5.42%
25. Greco Belgica Independent 2,100,985 4.62%
26. Raffy Alunan Independent 2,032,362 4.45%
27. Larry Gadon KBL 1,971,327 4.40%
28. Rey Langit UNA 1,857,630 4.12%
29. Lorna Kapunan Aksyon 1,838,978 4.03%
30. Dionisio Santiago Independent 1,828,305 4.02%
31. Samuel Pagdilao Independent 1,755,949 3.91%
32. Melchor Chavez PMM 1,736,822 3.85%
33. Getulio Napeñas UNA 1,719,576 3.82%
34. Ina Ambolodto Liberal 1,696,558 3.62%
35. Allan Montaño UNA 1,605,073 3.56%
36. Walden Bello Independent 1,091,194 2.41%
37. Jacel Kiram UNA 995,673 2.12%
38. Shariff Albani Independent 905,610 1.94%
39. Jovito Palparan Independent 855,297 1.87%
40. Cresente Paez Independent 808,623 1.80%
41. Sandra Cam PMP 805,756 1.77%
42. Dante Liban Independent 782,249 1.72%
43. Ramon Montaño Independent 759,263 1.68%
44. Aldin Ali PMM 733,838 1.56%
45. Romeo Maganto Lakas 731,021 1.60%
46. Godofredo Arquiza Independent 680,550 1.50%
47. Levi Baligod Independent 596,583 1.31%
48. Diosdado Valeroso Independent 527,146 1.16%
49. Ray Dorona Independent 495,191 1.09%
50. Eid Kabalu Independent 379,846 0.81%
Total turnout 44,979,151 80.69%
Total votes 319,308,507 N/A
Registered voters 55,739,911 100%
Reference: Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.[9][10]

2013

 Summary of the May 13, 2013 Philippine Senate election results
# Candidate Coalition Party Votes%
1. Grace Poe Team PNoy Independent 20,337,327 50.66%
2. Loren Legarda Team PNoy NPC 18,661,196 46.49%
3. Alan Cayetano Team PNoy Nacionalista 17,580,813 43.79%
4. Chiz Escudero Team PNoy Independent 17,502,358 43.60%
5. Nancy Binay UNA UNA 16,812,148 41.88%
6. Sonny Angara Team PNoy LDP 16,005,564 39.87%
7. Bam Aquino Team PNoy Liberal 15,534,465 38.70%
8. Koko Pimentel Team PNoy PDP-Laban 14,725,114 36.68%
9. Antonio Trillanes Team PNoy Nacionalista 14,127,722 35.19%
10. Cynthia Villar Team PNoy Nacionalista 13,822,854 34.43%
11. JV Ejercito Estrada UNA UNA 13,684,736 34.09%
12. Gringo Honasan UNA UNA 13,211,424 32.91%
13. Dick Gordon UNA UNA 12,501,991 31.14%
14. Migz Zubiri UNA UNA 11,821,134 29.45%
15. Jack Enrile UNA NPC 11,543,024 28.75%
16. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. Team PNoy Liberal 11,356,739 28.29%
17. Risa Hontiveros Team PNoy Akbayan 10,944,843 27.26%
18. Edward Hagedorn Not affiliated Independent 8,412,840 20.96%
19. Eddie Villanueva Not affiliated Bangon Pilipinas 6,932,985 17.27%
20. Jamby Madrigal Team PNoy Liberal 6,787,744 16.91%
21. Mitos Magsaysay UNA UNA 5,620,429 14.00%
22. Teodoro Casiño Makabayan Makabayan 4,295,151 10.70%
23. Ernesto Maceda UNA UNA 3,453,121 8.60%
24. Tingting Cojuangco UNA UNA 3,152,939 7.85%
25. Samson Alcantara Not affiliated Social Justice Society 1,240,104 3.09%
26. John Carlos de los Reyes Not affiliated Ang Kapatiran 1,238,280 3.08%
27. Greco Belgica Not affiliated DPP 1,128,924 2.81%
28. Ricardo Penson Not affiliated Independent 1,040,293 2.59%
29. Ramon Montaño Not affiliated Independent 1,040,131 2.59%
30. Rizalito David Not affiliated Ang Kapatiran 1,035,971 2.58%
31. Christian Señeres Not affiliated DPP 706,198 1.76%
32. Marwil Llasos Not affiliated Ang Kapatiran 701,390 1.75%
33. Baldomero Falcone Not affiliated DPP 665,845 1.66%
Total turnout 40,144,207 75.77%
Total votes 297,625,797 N/A
Registered voters, including overseas voters 52,982,173 100.00%
Reference: Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.[11]

    References

    1. 1 2 John Gray Geer, ed. (2004). Public opinion and polling around the world: a historical encyclopedia, Volume 1. ABC-CLIO, Inc. p. 690. ISBN 1-57607-911-2.
    2. 1 2 3 "History of the Senate". Official website of the Senate. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
    3. 1 2 Quezon, Manuel III (2009-06-15). "Reviewing the prewar plebiscites". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-01-14.
    4. 1 2 Quezon, Manuel III (2006-11-20). "Block voting". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2010-12-31.
    5. ↑ Quezon, Manuel III (2008-04-10). "Senate the victim of a design flaw". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
    6. ↑ R., Lazo (2009). Philippine governance and the 1987 constitution. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 978-971-23-4546-3.
    7. ↑ Araneta, Sandy (2001-07-24). "It's final: Honasan is No. 13". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2011-01-13.
    8. ↑ 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.
    9. ↑ "NBOC Resolution No. 007-16" (PDF). Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers. 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
    10. ↑ "2016 Official Senatorial Election Results". Rappler & Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers. 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-05-22.
    11. ↑ "NBOC Resolution No. 0010-13". Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers. 2013-06-05. Retrieved 2013-06-09.
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