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| More than 68m Filipinos voted across the country in yesterday's mid-term elections |
A lot of surprises sprang from the results of the Philippines’ mid-term election, which is widely seen as a referendum on the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos and the looming showdown with his estranged vice-president Sara Duterte.
A mixed result came out of the elections which ended
yesterday, March 12, both for Filipinos voting across the country and those who
started voting overseas a month earlier.
Unofficial results put incumbent Senator Christopher
“Bong” Go, a close aide of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte, a runaway
leader in the senatorial race, something pre-election surveys had consistently
forecast.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
But former Senator Bam Aquino placing second in the
race came as a surprise to many, including himself. His political ally, Francis
Pangilinan, also placed highly in the rankings, despite surveys showing both
just beyond the winning circle of 12 senators.
Two other Duterte candidates finished strongly - incumbent
Senator Ronaldo dela Rosa and Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
While Marcos-backed candidates dominated the winners’
circle, taking seven of the 12 contested seats, two of them, Imee Marcos and
Camille Villar, were also publicly endorsed by Vice President Duterte, so it is
not likely they would vote to impeach her when the case comes before the Senate
for trial.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
The other winning candidates who ran under the
administration’s tickets were broadcaster Erwin Tulfo, former Senators Ping
Lacson and Tito Sotto, and reelectionists Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid.
With Aquino and Pangilinan easily securing slots in
the winning circle, a number of supposed shoo-ins from the Marcos ticket failed
to make it, including Tulfo’s brother Ben, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Interior
Secretary Benhur Abalos and incumbents Ramon “Bong” Revilla and Francis
Tolentino.
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| The final unofficial tally shows 7 administration candidates landing in the magic circle |
The Senate make-up will be crucial in determining
whether President Marcos could push through with his political agenda, and hold
sway on the fate of his jailed predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte and that of his
embattled daughter, Sara.
Senators will act as jurors in an impeachment trial,
and vote on the outcome. A 2/3 vote for impeachment would result to Sara Dutere
being removed from office, and a lifetime ban.
Monday’s vote where 18,000 posts were contested, including mayors,
governors and congressional representatives, yielded many other surprises.
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| Cynthia Villa's loss in Las Pinas is the first for her family since the 1990s |
As expected, former President Duterte was again
elected as mayor of Davao City despite the uncertainty of his release from
detention and return to the Philippines. He won alongside his son, Sebastian,
who will slide down to the post of vice-mayor, and elder son Paolo, who retains
his seat as Davao City representative.
Other runaway winners were Vico Sotto, who will serve his third and last term as mayor of Pasig City, and former Vice President
Leni Robredo who will take up the post of Naga City mayor.
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| Akbayan, which leads the party-list vote, will have 3 Congress representatives |
For the party-lists, Akbayan took most of the votes,
winning more than 2.7 million votes, or nearly 6% of the total, which will
ensure it of three seats in the House of Representatives. Its first nominee is
human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.
The other sure winners are Duterte Youth, with 5.7%
of the votes, Tingog with 3.96 %; 4Ps with 3.2%, Acts CIS with 2.67% and Ako
Bicol with 2.4%
