Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas Fought to a Draw in Senate Race
Navotas City’s lone district representative Toby Tiangco recently addressed the outcome of the May 12 mid-term elections, emphasizing that the Administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate did not lose to the so-called “DuterTEN.” According to Tiangco, who managed the campaign for the 11 senatorial candidates endorsed by the current administration, the results indicated a clear draw rather than a defeat.
“To interpret the result of the Senate election as an outright loss for the Alyansa slate is an oversimplification,” Tiangco stated.
The term “DuterTEN” refers to a group of Senate hopefuls who openly support the detained former President Rodrigo Duterte. Despite intense competition, the May elections revealed a balanced Senate, reflecting a divided mandate from voters rather than dominance by either side.
Election Results Show Balanced Senate
The final and official tally from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) shows that five candidates backed by Duterte secured Senate seats. These winners include Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta, Camille Villar, and Imee Marcos.
On the other hand, the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate, heavily promoted by President Marcos himself, also won five seats. Victorious candidates from this group were Erwin Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, and Lito Lapid.
This equal distribution of seats between the two major political camps suggests that neither the administration nor the Duterte faction achieved clear control of the Senate.
Independent Candidates Complete the Senate Lineup
Completing the so-called “Magic 12” were two candidates who were not explicitly tied to either Alyansa or DuterTEN. These senators are Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, who secured their positions independently.
Tiangco further commented, “We may not have swept the top twelve, but no one could claim that we suffered a political setback in the race.” He maintained that viewing the election results as a straightforward win or loss for either group misses the nuances of the electorate’s choice.
The 2025 Senate race outcome highlights how political alliances remain fragmented, with voters opting for a more balanced representation in the upper chamber. This dynamic is expected to influence legislative decisions and collaborations moving forward.
For more news and updates on the 2025 Philippine Senate elections, visit Filipinokami.com.