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These are the Senatorial Candidates who made it to the “Magic 12” from National Certificate of Canvass (NCOC)

May 22, 2025

It’s official, below are the 12 Senatorial Candidates who are elected by the Filipino People to serve as the new Senators for the next 6 years.

  1. Sen. Bong Go – 27,121,073 votes
  2. Former senator Bam Aquino – 20,971,899 votes
  3. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa – 20,773,946 votes
  4. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo – 17,118,881 votes
  5. Former senator Francis Pangilinan – 15,343,229
  6. SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta – 15,250,723
  7. Former senator Panfilo Lacson – 15,106,111
  8. Former Senate president Vicente Sotto III – 14,832,996
  9. Sen. Pia Cayetano – 14,573,430
  10. Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar – 13,651,274
  11. Sen. Lito Lapid – 13,394,102
  12. Sen. Imee Marcos – 13,339,227

As for Party-list, the top five party-list groups are;

  1. Akbayan (2,779,621 votes)
  2. Duterte Youth (2,338,564)
  3. Tingog (1,822,708)
  4. 4Ps (1,469,571)
  5. ACT-CIS (1,239,930)
  6. Ako Bicol (1,073,119)

In an article on PNA, “The NBOC canvassed a total of 175 certificates of canvass (COCs), including from overseas — 58 on Tuesday, the first day of canvassing; 101 on Wednesday; and 16 COCs on Thursday. The poll body said the tally released is still subject to auditing.”

Latest Partial Results Senatorial Race for Election 2025

May 14, 2025

At 97.37% of Total Election Results Processed as of May 14, 2025, 2:12 PM, Philippine time, this is the latest results of “Senatorial Race for Election 2025”

Instead of the top 20, I’ll just list the top 15, since the top 10 have already seated for the position.

Rank Candidates Votes Percent
1 Bong Go (PDPLBN) 26,488,932 37.96%
2 Bam Aquino (KNP) 20,637,230 29.58%
3 Bato Dela Rosa (PDPLBN) 20,272,159 29.05%
4 Erwin Tulfo (LAKAS) 16,815,662 24.10%
5 Kiko Pangilinan (LP) 15,088,124 21.62%
6 Rodante Marcoleta (IND) 14,910,611 21.37%
7 Ping Lacson (IND) 14,857,131 21.29%
8 Tito Sotto (NPC) 14,596,610 20.92%
9 Pia Cayetano (NP) 14,306,916 20.50%
10 Camille Villar (NP) 13,360,070 19.15%
11 Lito Lapid (NPC) 13,121,188 18.81%
12 Imee R Marcos (NP) 13,037,96 18.69%
13 Ben Bitag Tulfo (IND) 11,886,773 17.04%
14 Ramon   “Bong” Revilla Jr.(LAKAS) 11,789,974 16.90%
15 Abby Binay (NPC) 11,569,910 16.58%

For the election results in the local level, please visit Rappler’s Election Homepage.

Source: COMELEC, Rappler

Partial Results Senatorial Race for Election 2025

May 13, 2025

80.26% precincts reporting as of May 13, 2025, 5:02 AM (PH local time). These are partial, unofficial results for the 2025 national and local elections based on data from the Comelec Media Server.

Before the end of the day tomorrow, May 13, 2025, Comelec will likely proclaim the winners for both the National and local level, since the election returns that have been received is at 98.42%, while the Overseas ERs is at 84.29%.

Rank Candidates Votes Percent
1 Bong Go (PDPLBN) 21,729,790 31.14%
2 Bam Aquino (KNP) 16,794,699 24.07%
3 Bato Dela Rosa (PDPLBN) 16,639,300 23.85%
4 Erwin Tulfo (LAKAS) 13,781,873 19.75%
5 Kiko Pangilinan (LP) 12,278,641 17.60%
6 Rodante Marcoleta (IND) 12,200,940 17.49%
7 Ping Lacson (IND) 12,116,320 17.37%
8 Tito Sotto (NPC) 11,909,561 17.07%
9 Pia Cayetano (NP) 11,684,846 16.75%
10 Camille Villar (NP) 10,997,784 15.76%
11 Lito Lapid (NPC) 10,793,298 15.47%
12 Imee R Marcos (NP) 10,697,840 15.33%
13 Ben Bitag Tulfo (IND) 9,722,361 13.93%
14 Ramon   “Bong” Revilla Jr.(LAKAS) 9,716,009 13.93%
15 Abby Binay (NPC) 9,476,986 13.58%
16 Benhur Abalos (PFP) 9,291,284 13.32%
17 Jimmy Bondoc (PDPLBN) 8,496,073 12.18%
18 Manny   “Pacman” (PFP) 8,383,304 12.01%
19 Phillip   “Ipe” Salvador (PDPLBN) 8,236,467 11.80%
20 Bosita Bonifacio   (IND) 7,834,722 11.23%

If you are closely monitoring the senatorial race, then you do not need to worry if your candidate is in the top 6 or even top 10, the last 3 or 2 position will determine if the candidate will have a seat at the Senate by the end of this election.

Source: COMELEC, Rappler

PhilHealth to abolish single confinement policy by end of September   

September 11, 2024

Kaycee Valmonte, writing for Rappler;

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will soon scrap its single confinement policy.

PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. told a Senate panel on Tuesday, September 10, that they are committed to making the changes needed “before month-end.”

This is great news to all PhilHealth members.

This means that if a patient was confined due to diarrhea in September and had PhilHealth cover the expenses, the patient has to shoulder the fees if another bout of diarrhea strikes again in October.

Some patients were supposedly told to lie in order to have their hospital bills covered by the state insurer. A mother named Elena Abilar, through a video presented to the Senate panel, recounted her experience with the single confinement rule when her son had pneumonia and had to be hospitalized twice.

PhilHealth did not need to create the “Single confinement policy” in the first place.

These are the 12 new Senators for the 19th Congress

May 21, 2022

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), just officially named the 12 senatorial candidates who won a seat in the 19th Congress. The proclamation ceremony was held in Pasay City last Wednesday, May 18.

Here are the list of the 12 new Senators from 1st to 12th;
1st: Robin Padilla – 26,612,434
2nd: Loren Legarda – 24,264,969
3rd: Raffy Tulfo – 23,396,954
4th: Sherwin Gatchalian – 20,602,655
5th: Francis Escudero – 20,271,458
6th: Mark Villar – 19,475,592
7th: Alan Peter Cayetano – 19,295,314
8th: Juan Miguel Zubiri – 18,734,336
9th: Joel Villanueva – 18,486,034
10th: JV Ejercito – 15,841,858
11th: Risa Hontiveros – 15,420,807
12th: Jinggoy Estrada – 15,108,625

The new senators will serve for 6 years, from 2022 to 2028.

Source: Rappler

COMELEC says “only 533” VCMs were reported defective

May 9, 2022
COMELEC says “only 533” VCMs were reported defective

As of 7 p.m. Comelec says “only 533” VCMs were reported defective. This is what Comelec Commissioner Marlon Casquejo said regarding the reports that cites VCM are not working in a number of voting precinct.

The reported 533 VMCs are just a fraction of the 107,345 machines deployed by COMELEC for the 2022 elections, so far 97,345 VCMs have been used by the Comelec.

Source: Rappler

President Rodrigo Duterte to run for Senator instead

November 15, 2021

In another twist in the Philippine Politics, President Rodrigo Duterte has filed his candidacy for Senator, instead of Vice President, which was previously reported here.

With this new development, Sen. Bong Go who is running for President will be without a running mate. Both President Duterte and Sen. Go will be running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party.

President Duterte will substitute Mona Liza Visorde, who withdrew her candidacy at the Monday, November 15, 2021.

You can read the full report from ABS-CBN News.

VP Leni Robredo dances to Taylor Swift’s 22 amid all the election drama

November 14, 2021
VP Leni Robredo dances to Taylor Swift’s 22 amid all the election drama

In her tweet (above) that’s full of emojis and a 34 seconds video, it clearly shows that VP Robredo is unfazed with all the development that’s happening between Bongbong Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte, and the refilling of Sen. Bong Go and Presidete R. Duterte, for President and Vice President, respectively.

We can see VP Leni Robredo and a number of her supporters dances to Taylor Swift’s 22.

At the sametime, a video of VP Robredo was published on her Youtube Channel regarding choosing the right candidate this coming National 2022 Election.

Ano man ang takot mo, huwag mangamba. Pwedeng pumiling muli. Piliin ang mahal ka. Piliin ang pipiliin ka.

#PumiliMuli
#LeniKiko2022

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for Vice President and will be the running mate of Bongbong Marcos Jr.

November 14, 2021

As if it was a twist in a movie, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte has filed her certificate of candidacy for the Vice President for the coming 2022 Election. She is the substitute candidate of Ms. Lyle Fernando Uy who filed to run for Vice President under Lakas-CMD party.

After filing her candidacy, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte will be an adopted/guest candidate of Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal and will serve as her running mate for the coming national election. The two candidate previously met in Cebu during the birthday celebration of Cong. Yedda, wife of House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

Both Ms. Anna Capela Velasco and Ms. Lyle Fernando Uy have withdraw their candidacy as Lakas-CMD President and Vice President, respectively, to give way to Sara Duterte’s VP bid.

You can read more about this on CNN Philippines – Sara Duterte runs for vice president in 2022 as substitute

President Rodrigo Duterte to run as the Vice President of Bong Go this coming 2022 Election

November 14, 2021

After announcing his retirement from Politics last October 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte will now run for Vice President and as the running mate of his longtime aide Sen. Bong Go, who withdrew his VP candidacy and refiled to run for President.

Both President Duterte and Sen Bong Go will be running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan (PDDS) party due to the unresolved issue with PDP-Laban party.

You can read more from PTV.


Ely Buendia gifted Presidential candidate Leni Robredo with a Eraserheads 25th Anniversary Limited Edition on Vinyl

November 12, 2021

Eheads Frontman Ely Buendia visted and gifted Presidential candidate Leni Robredo with a limited edition of Eraserheads 25th Anniversary album on vinyl.

In a social media post, Vice President and Presidential candidate Leni Robredo shared a picture with Ely and the vinyl album, and said;

Ely Buendia in the house!! Grabe, nabulabog opisinaPartying facePartying face He gave me this Eraserheads 25th Anniversary Limited Edition on vinyl Musical score Multiple musical notes

Thank you, ElyFolded handsFolded hands Nakita mo kung gaano kadami fans mo sa office namin.

I embedded the tweet below;

If you can call, last September, Ely Buendia tweeted a possible “possible” Eheads reunion if Leni Robredo ran for office, as an answer to one of a fan question.

Now that VP Leni Robredo has officially filed her candidacy for highest position in the country, Eheads fans are still waiting for that much awaited Eheads reunion.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte joins Lakas-CMD party

November 11, 2021
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte joins Lakas-CMD party
Image: @cnnphilippines

Just hours after resigning from Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte joins Lakas-CMD party and took oath today, November 11,2021 at 6:00 PM. The oath taking took place at the farm of Sen. Bong Revilla in Cavite.

Currently, Lakas-CMD Presidential candidate is Ms. Anna Capela Velasco and Ms. Lyle Fernando Uy for Vice President. The arrival of Sara Duterte, it she can substitute either Ms. Velasco or Ms. Uy to run for the two highest political position in the country.

You can read the full report from CNN Philippines – Sara Duterte resigns from HNP, joins Lakas-CMD

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte resigned from her political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago

November 11, 2021
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte resigned from her political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago

Just two days after withdrawing her candidacy for the reelection, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte resigned from the political part Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

In her two-sentence hand-written resignation letter, she said;

It is with profound sadness that I hereby tender my resignation from our beloved party.

My support will always be with you and I will always be grateful for all the things you have taught me.

Here’s the actual hand-written resignation letter as received by Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), as shared by ANC Alerts;

What happens next will be all speculation, since she can join his father at PDP-Laban to substitute Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa as the Presidential candidate for the coming election or join Bongbong Marcos Jr. political party, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas to be his running mate as the Vice President.

Everything should be clear by Monday, November 15, the deadline of substitution of candidates for the coming national 2022 elections.

President Duterte approved the implementation of Alert Level System for COVID-19 Response for the whole country

November 11, 2021

President Duterte just signed Executive Order No. 151 (EO 151), which is the adoption of Alert Level System (ALS) for COVID-19 Response for the whole country.

In the EO, the rollout of ALS will be in 4 phases. The pilot areas where ALS is already implemented will be consider as the first phase and other regions will follow in the succeeding phase.

Here is the breakdown of the phases;
Phase 1 – NCR, Region 3, 4-A, 6, 7, 10 and 11
Phase 2 – Region 1, 8 and 12
Phase 3 – Region 2, 5 and 9
Phase 4 – Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region 4-B, Region 13 (CARAGA) and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM)

The shift to Phase 2 can be done anytime after the effectivity of the EO, as determined by Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases but will not be later than the end of the November 2021. The next phase will then take place every week until it covers the whole country.

The guideline for the implementations of ALS in Pilot area and its amendments will be approved by the IATF once the EO is in effect. For regions not under the ALS, Community Quarantine will still be implemented.

You can read the full text of Executive Order No. 151 below;

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte withdraws candidacy for Mayor of Davao City

November 9, 2021
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte withdraws candidacy for Mayor of Davao City

In a facebook post, Presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte confirmed that she will be withdrew her candidacy for Mayor of Davao City and said that her brother Sebastian Duterte, who is currently the Vice Mayor, will replace her to run as the new Mayor of Davao City.

She did not provide any reason as to why she withdrew her candidacy and there’s a speculation that she will be running for a much higher position this coming 2022 election.

It can be recalled that then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte file his candidacy for reelection as Davao City mayor in October 2015 but withdrew his Mayor candidacy and filed as a substitute candidate for President instead.

Trillanes warns voters against Ferdinand Marcos Sr. for the “greatest robbery of a government”

October 27, 2021
Trillanes warns voters against Ferdinand Marcos Sr. for the “greatest robbery of a government”

In a tweet (embedded above), Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV warns voters against the Marcos family and Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in particular for holding the “Greatest robbery of a Government.”

He added that “Don’t take my word for it. I-google nyo” referring to the conduct their own research regarding the issue.

In the Guinness World Records article;

The government of the Philippines announced on 23 Apr 1986 that it had succeeded in identifying $860.8 million (£569.5 million) salted away by the former President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos (1917–89) and his wife Imelda. The total national loss from November 1965 was believed to be $5–$10 billion.

Trillanes is running for Senator under the opposition standard-bearer Vice President Leni Robredo. He is also known as one of Duterte’s fierce critic even before he won he became the President of the country.

Sonny Matula is the 12th member of Leni Robredo’s senatorial lineup

October 24, 2021

After more than a week of waiting, Presidential candidate Leni Robredo announced that the 12th member of her senatorial lineup will be Sonny Matula of Labor Party Philippines.

Sonny Matula will be running as an independent candidate and will included among the guest candidate in Robredo’s senatorial slate.

Robredo’s senatorial lineup for the coming 2022 National Election will now compose of re-electionists, former opponents and long-time allies.

Here’s the complete list.

  1. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
  2. Senator Risa Hontiveros
  3. Senator Leila de Lima
  4. Humanrights lawyer Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Diokno
  5. Former Ifugao representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr.
  6. Alex Lacson of Kapatiran Party
  7. Senator Richard Gordon
  8. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
  9. Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero
  10. Senator Joel Villanueva
  11. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay.
  12. Labor Leader Sonny Matula

You can watch Leni Robredo’s announcement and why she choose Matula as one of her senators;

Leni Robredo announces Senatorial lineup for the 2022 Election

October 15, 2021

Presidential candidate Leni Robredo just announced her 11 senatorial candidates for the coming 2022 election.

The lineup is a mixed-bag of personalities coming from different parties and political background.

  1. Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV
  2. Senator Risa Hontiveros
  3. Senator Leila de Lima
  4. Humanrights lawyer Jose Manuel ‘Chel’ Diokno
  5. Former Ifugao representative Teodoro Baguilat Jr.
  6. Alex Lacson of Kapatiran Party
  7. Senator Richard Gordon
  8. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
  9. Sorsogon Governor Francis “Chiz” Escudero
  10. Senator Joel Villanueva
  11. Former Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Leni Robredo and her party is yet to announced their 12th candidate, who they are still ‘wooing’. The announcement was made with her Vice president aspirant Kiko Pangilinan and Senator Franklin Drilon, and streamed online.

Veteran Newscaster Noli De Castro withdraws Senate Candidacy

October 13, 2021

Seven days after filing his COC for senator, Veteran news anchor and former vice president Noli de Castro is withdrawing his candidacy for senator, this was confirmed by Aksyon Demokratiko chairman Ernest Ramel.

It’s unclear why ‘Kabayan’ Noli de Castro pulled out of the senate race but De Castro said “serve Filipinos better by continuing to work in the news industry, rather than in politics.”

You can read his full statement at ABS-CBN News website – READ: Kabayan Noli De Castro statement on withdrawal of candidacy

Here’s the statement of ABS-CBN News;

Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa files COC to run for President

October 9, 2021

In another plot twist, a long time Duterte ally Bato Dela Rosa has filed his COC to be the standard bearer of the Cusi-led PDP-Laban faction.

While filing his COC, it’s noticeable that Sen. Bato Dela Rosa is wearing a Hugpong ng Pagbabago party shirt instead of the PDP-Laban faction. ‘Hugpong ng Pagbabago’ is the regional party of Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Before taking a seat as a Senator om 2019, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is a long time PNP officer and served as the chief of the Davao City Police Office from 2010 to 2016, before being handpicked by then President-Elect President Rodrigo Duterte as the new PNP Chief on May 19, 2016.

Sen. Bong Go, who is also a long time Duterte associate, will be Sen. Dela Rosa’s running, while filed his COC earlier this week.

It’s unclear if Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa will be the ‘real’ Presidential candidate of the Cusi-side of PDP-Laban or will later be substituted by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte by November 15. I guess, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Celebrity reacts to Leni Robredo’s bid to run for President in 2022 Election

October 7, 2021
Celebrity reacts to Leni Robredo’s bid to run for President in 2022 Election

It looks like VP Leni Robredo’s presidential bid is off to a good start as a number of celebrities showed their support after formally announcing her candidacy.

Celebrities posted their support on their respective social media accounts by using the hashtag #LeniRobredo2022 #LetLeniLead, while others posted their pictures with anything that’s pink, which is Robredo’s official.

Since it’s now official that Leno Robredo is running for President, we can all agree that what we are now waiting for Eraserhead’s announcement for their reunion concert.

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Leni Robredo formally announce her candidacy for the coming 2022 National Election

October 7, 2021
Leni Robredo formally announce her candidacy for the coming 2022 National Election

In a press conference, Philippines’ Vice President Leni Robredo formally announce her candidacy to run for the highest position in the country.

Her announcement came a week after 1Sambayan officially nominates her for the position of President for the 2022 Election. It is reported the Leni Robredo’s running mate for the Vice President position will be Sen. Kiko Pangilinan.

“Buong-buo ang loob ko ngayon: Kailangan nating palayain ang sarili mula sa kasalukuyang situwasyon. Lalaban ako; lalaban tayo. Inihahain ko ang aking sarili bilang kandidato sa pagkapangulo sa halalan ng 2022.”

VP Leni Robredo was the wife of the late Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo. Her political career started when she served as the representative of Camarines Sur’s 3rd district in 2013 then won the Vicpresident in 2016. She defeated the son of late Dictator, Bongbong Marcos Jr. by a narrow margin, which was later contested and dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Bongbong Marcos to run for President in the 2022 National Elections

October 5, 2021

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. has officially announced that he will be running for President in the 2022 national elections. He is the second child and only son of former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos and former First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos.

He previously ran for Vice President in the 2016 National Elections but lost to the eventual winner VP Leni Robredo. He disputed the election results before the Supreme Court but the High Tribunal dismissed his election protest. It is unclear who will be Bongbong Marcos running mate for the VP position.

If VP Leni Robredo decides to run for President, we may see a rematch of the 2016 Election with a number strong candidates namely Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Isko Moreno and Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.

Sen. Bong Go files candidacy for Vice President

October 3, 2021

Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go officially files his certificate of candidacy (COC) for Vice President. He was accompanied by Pres. Duterte, Saturday, October 2nd.

In a statement, Go said he will run for vice president after Duterte announced his “retirement” from politic, withdrawing his acceptance of the PDP-Laban nomination for the same post.

“Given that President Rodrigo Duterte decided to withdraw his acceptance of nomination, I am here to take on the challenge as PDP-Laban’s Vice Presidential candidate,” Go said in a statement.

Sen. Bong Go was originally nominated for the position of President by the Cusi-side of the now divided PDP-Laban. With the latest development, it’s unclear who will be the new candidate for the position of President and if the replacement will even have a chance of running against Isko Moreno and Ping Lacson, who already announced their intension to run for the highest office in the country.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte retires from Politics

October 3, 2021

In a surprising twist, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he will be retiring from politics. His announcement was made while accompanying longtime aide Senator Bong Go in filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) for vice president.

His retirement means that he will no longer continue with his plans to run of the Vice President, as previously announced.

This is not the first time that Duterte announce his retirement from politics, if you can recall, in 2015, then Davao City Mayor Duterte said that he “will retire from public life for good. I believe it’s no longer my time to be in politics.”

Sen. Bong Go and President Duterte was nominated by Cusi-led faction of PDP-Laban, for President and Vice President, respectively but now that Bong Go filed for the position of Vice President and Pres. Duterte looming retirement, it’s unclear whole will the standard bearer of PDP-Laban to run for President, since Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte already filed her candidacy for a reelection for Mayor of Davao City.

Of course, we cannot discount the fact that Rodrigo Duterte can still change his mind and later run for the the VP position, since as reported by One New, this was an old strategy that Duterte already used. I guess we’ll know by Nov. 15th.