Senatorial Candidates at Bottom Face Uncertainty in Race
Senatorial candidates occupying the lower ranks of the “Magic 12” remain at risk of being pushed out as the race tightens. With over 1,000 election returns still pending as of late afternoon, the final standings could still shift.
Dr. Edna Co, a Doctor of Public Administration, explained, “In case magbabago, ang pwedeng gumalaw ay yung nasa 10, 11, 12, yung nasa ibaba… ‘Yun ang competitive area. Ibig sabihin, baka malaglag yung 12, may ibang pumasok. ‘Yung pwedeng mag change yung position ng 10 and 11.” This means that candidates in positions 10, 11, and 12 are still vulnerable to changes, with potential replacements coming in.
At present, Camille Villar, Lito Lapid, and Imee Marcos hold the 10th, 11th, and 12th spots respectively. Meanwhile, Ben Tulfo and Bong Revilla are close behind in 13th and 14th places. The margins among these candidates are narrow, intensifying the competition in these ranks.
Competition Intensifies Among Magic 12 Candidates
According to Dr. Co, “Halos hindi naglalayo ang kanilang figures mula doon sa 10, 11, 12 so pwedeng gumalaw… Although, magkakadikit rin medyo yung nasa gitna, pero sila rin mismo yung pwedeng mag-change lang… Pero mukhang okay na sila yung 1 to 9. So yung 10, 11, 12 [ang] pwedeng gumalaw.” This highlights that the top nine candidates appear secure, but those in the bottom three of the Magic 12 are still contesting fiercely.
Throughout the counting process, the exact rankings remain fluid. As such, candidates and supporters alike remain watchful, knowing that the final results could still alter the composition of the Magic 12.
Incumbents React to Partial Election Results
Senator Bong Go, currently leading the senatorial race, expressed surprise at the early results despite topping pre-election surveys. He said, “Nasorpresa po tayo sa naging resulta. Referendum po ito sa amin bilang incumbent senators. Ito po yung performance rating namin kung nagtrabaho ba kami sa nagdaan na anim na taon.”
Senator Bato dela Rosa, holding third place, acknowledged the heavy cost of their current standing. “Salamat sa lahat po ng sumusuporta at nagtitiwala sa akin, at of course, kay dating pangulong Duterte na naging mentor ko po sa pagseserbisyo. Itong pag-angat natin ngayon dito sa partial results, it came with a very heavy price… ‘Yan ‘yung freedom ni pangulong Duterte,” he shared.
Youth Voters Drive Surprising Election Outcomes
Bam Aquino, now in second place, credited young voters for his unexpected strong performance. “Very unexpected po ito… From the first day, until the last day, ang amin po talagang kabataan yung nangangampanya. First order of business, ibalik natin yung pondo para sa edukasyon,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of education funding, promising to prioritize its restoration as a top agenda item.
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