Top 12 Philippine ​​Senators: Winners mark shift in political landscape

Manila: Twelve senators were officially proclaimed winners following the 2025 Philippine midterm elections, marking a significant change in the Asian nation's political landscape.

Veteran politicians and members of prominent political families dominated the so-called "Magic 12," with Sen. Bong Go and former Sen. Bam Aquino leading the race, according to the final official canvass released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Two independents – Rodante Marcoleta (former congressman) and Ping Lacson (former senator and presidential candidate) – also secured seats in the 24-member upper legislative chamber.

Shifting environment

The results highlighted a shifting political environment, as key allies of detained former President Rodrigo Duterte and two liberal opposition candidates emerged among the top winners.

Top 12 senators-elect

The top 12 senators-elect, as proclaimed by the Commission on Elections on May 17, are:

The outcome provided a surprising boost to Vice President Sara Duterte as she faces an impending impeachment trial in the Senate, while it posed a setback for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, whose candidates did not perform well in what is typically a show of strength during midterm elections.

Bong Go, a longtime aide and Cabinet member under Duterte, secured the top spot with 27,121,073 votes (6.33%).

Following him was Aquino, a prominent figure in the Liberal Party and a critic of the Duterte administration, who garnered 20,971,899 votes (4.89%).

Former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who served as Duterte’s national police chief and is associated with his controversial anti-drug campaign, placed third with 20,773,946 votes (4.85%).

News anchor Erwin Tulfo, aligned with the Marcos slate and a consistent front-runner in pre-election surveys, finished fourth with 17,118,881 votes (4.00%).

Opposition candidate Kiko Pangilinan, who previously ran for vice president, claimed the fifth position with 15,343,229 votes (3.58%).

The event, held at the Manila Hotel Tent City, saw the attendance of the senators-elect. Pangilinan, however, did not attend the ceremony since he is in the United States for the graduation of his daughter Frankie.

Political analyst Ronald Llamas told local media that the results indicate “a vote against the administration,” rather than a reaffirmation of Duterte’s influence.”

Of the 12 winning senators, five were endorsed by Sara Duterte, including her father’s former aides Go and Dela Rosa, alongside alliance candidates Imee Marcos and Camille Villar — both from influential political families.

The remaining five were considered allies of Marcos, while two — Aquino and Pangilinan — came from the opposition and were not expected to rank highly.

The Comelec reported a total of 825,278,088 valid votes cast in the senatorial election.

Candidates collectively received 428,489,615 votes, leaving over 396 million votes unassigned or invalid.

A significant 242,624,005 under-votes were recorded, where voters selected fewer than 12 candidates, while 17,098,020 over-votes were rejected for exceeding the allowed limit.

Impeachment trial ahead

The strong performance of Duterte allies may have implications for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, set to begin in the Senate in July.

She was impeached by the House of Representives in February on charges of misusing public funds and allegedly conspiring to assassinate President Marcos — claims she has denounced as politically motivated.

To secure acquittal, Duterte needs the support of at least nine senators.

With a couple of sitting senators known to be sympathetic to her and the election of several others viewed as potential allies, analysts believe her acquittal remains a possibility — though it is not guaranteed.

“Definitely Sara gained in the election in her fight against impeachment,” remarked Llamas. “The impeachment will be uphill but not impossible.”

Duterte's local victory

Despite being detained at the International Criminal Court in The Hague since March, Rodrigo Duterte won a landslide victory as mayor of Davao City, demonstrating his lasting political influence in his southern stronghold.

He is currently awaiting trial for crimes against humanity related to his anti-drug campaign, which resulted in numerous deaths during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.

Under Philippine law, candidates facing criminal charges, including those in detention, are eligible to run for office unless they have been convicted and have exhausted all appeals.

Kristina Conti, an assistant to counsel at the ICC, has indicated that the court is also investigating Dela Rosa and Go for their involvement in the drug war.