1946 Philippine general election

Last updated October 08, 2023

Elections for the president, vice-president, members of the Senate, members of the House of Representatives and local positions were held on April 23, 1946, pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 725

Background

Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth government in 1945, Senators Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and their allies called for an early national election to choose the president and vice president of the Philippines and members of the Congress. In December 1945, the House Insular Affairs Committee of the United States Congress approved the joint resolution setting the date of the election on not later than April 30, 1946.

Prompted by this congressional action, President Sergio Osmeña called the Philippine Congress to a three-day special session. Congress enacted Commonwealth Act No. 725, setting the date of the election on April 23, 1946. The act was signed by Osmeña on January 5, 1946.

Candidates

Three parties presented their respective candidates for the different national elective positions. These were the Nacionalista Party –Conservative (Osmeña) Wing, the Liberal Wing of the Nacionalista Party, and the Partido Modernista. The Nacionalistas had Osmeña and Senator Eulogio Rodriguez as their candidates for president and vice president, respectively. The Modernistas chose Hilario Camino Moncado and Luis Salvador for the same positions. The standard bearers of the Liberals were Senators Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino.

On January 3, 1946, President Osmeña announced his candidacy for the presidency. On January 22, Eulogio Rodriguez was nominated as Osmeña's running mate for vice president, in a convention held at Ciro's Club in Manila. According to the Manila Chronicle:

The convention opened at 10:15 in the morning when the acting secretary of the party, Vicente Farmoso, called the confab to order.

Congressman Jose C. Romero, who delivered the keynote speech accused Senate President Manuel Roxas and his followers of fanning the flames of discontent among the people, of capitalizing on the people's hardship, and of minimizing the accomplishment of the [Osmeña] Administration. These men with the Messiah complex have been the bane of the country and of the world. This is the mentality that produces Hitlers and the Mussolinis, and their desire to climb to power. they even want to destroy the party which placed them where they are today.

Senator Carlos P. Garcia, who delivered the nomination speech for President Sergio Osmeña, made a long recital of Osmeña's achievements, his virtues as public official and as private citizen.

Entering the convention hall at about 7:30 p.m, President Osmeña, accompanied by the committee on notification, was greeted with rounds of cheer and applause as he ascended the platform. President Osmeña delivered his speech which was a general outline of his future plans once elected. He emphasized that as far as his party is concerned, independence is a close issue. It is definitely coming on July 4, 1946^[1]

On January 19, 1946, Senator Roxas announced his candidacy for the presidency in a convention held in Santa Ana Cabaret in Makati, Rizal. According to Manila Chronicle:

...more than three thousand (by conservative estimate there were only 1,000 plus) delegates, party members and hero worshipers jammed into suburban, well known Santa Ana Cabaret (biggest in the world) to acclaim ex-katipunero and Bagong Katipunan organizer Manuel Acuña Roxas as the guidon bearer of the Nacionalista Party's Liberal Wing.

The delegates, who came from all over the Islands, met in formal convention from 10:50 am and did not break up till about 5:30 pm.

They elected 1. Mariano J. Cuenco, professional Osmeñaphobe, as temporary chairman; 2. Jose Avelino and ex-pharmacist Antonio Zacarias permanent chairman and secretary, respectively; 3. nominated forty-four candidates for senators; 4. heard the generalissimo himself deliver an oratorical masterpiece consisting of 50 per cent attacks against the (Osmeña) Administration, 50 per cent promises, pledges. Rabid Roxasites greeted the Roxas acceptance speech with hysterical applause.^[2]

President Osmeña tried to prevent the split in the Nacionalista Party by offering Senator Roxas the position of Philippine Regent Commissioner to the United States but the latter turned down the offer.

As a result of the split among the members of the Nacionalista Party, owing to marked differenced of opinion on certain vital issues of which no settlement had been reached, a new political organization was born and named the Liberal Wing of the Nacionalista Party, which would later become the Liberal Party.

Results

The election was generally peaceful and orderly except in some places where passions ran high, especially in the province of Pampanga. According to the controversial decision of the Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives on Meliton Soliman vs. Luis Taruc, Pampanga was under the terroristic clutches and control of the Hukbalahaps.So terrorized were the people of Arayat, at one time, 200 persons abandoned their homes, their work, and their food, all their belongings in a mass evacuation to the poblacion due to fear and terror.

A total of 2,218,847 voters went to the polls to elect their president and vice president, who were also to be the commonwealth's last and the republic's first.

Four days after election day, the Liberal candidates were proclaimed victors. Roxas registered an overwhelming majority of votes in 34 provinces and nine cities: Abra, Agusan, Albay, Antique, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cavite, Cotabato, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Laguna, La Union, Leyte, Marinduque, Mindoro, Misamis Oriental, Negros Occidental, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pangasinan, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sorsogon, Sulu, Surigao, Tayabas, Zambales, Manila, Quezon City, Bacolod (Negros Occidental), Iloilo City (Iloilo), Baguio (Mountain Province), Zamboanga City (Zamboanga), Tagaytay (Cavite), Cavite City (Cavite) and San Pablo City (Laguna)

Likewise, the Liberals won nine out of 16 contested senatorial seats.

In the House of Representatives, the Liberals won an overwhelming majority with 50 seats while the Nacionalistas and the Democratic Alliance only got 33 and six seats, respectively.

President


Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Manuel Roxas	Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing)^{[lower-alpha 1]}	1,333,006	53.93
	Sergio Osmeña	Nacionalista Party ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	1,129,994	45.72
	Hilario Moncado	Modernist Party	8,538	0.35
Total			2,471,538	100.00

Valid votes			2,471,538	95.17
Invalid/blank votes			125,342	4.83
Total votes			2,596,880	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,898,604	89.59
Source: Nohlen, Grotz, Hartmann, Hasall and Santos^[3]

1 2 The Nacionalista Party was split into two wings: those who supported Osmeña or the "conservative wing", and those who supported Roxas or the "liberal wing". The liberal wing eventually split off after the election and became the Liberal Party.

Vice-President


Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Elpidio Quirino	Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing)^{[lower-alpha 1]}	1,161,725	52.36
	Eulogio Rodriguez	Nacionalista Party ^{[lower-alpha 1]}	1,051,243	47.38
	Lou Salvador	Modernist Party	5,879	0.26
Total			2,218,847	100.00

Valid votes			2,218,847	85.44
Invalid/blank votes			378,033	14.56
Total votes			2,596,880	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			2,898,604	89.59
Source: Nohlen, Grotz, Hartmann, Hasall and Santos^[4]

1 2 The Nacionalista Party was split into two wings: those who supported Osmeña or the "conservative wing", and those who supported Roxas or the "liberal wing". The liberal wing eventually split off after the election and became the Liberal Party.

Senate

The first eight Senators would serve until 1951, and the second eight until 1949:

e • d Summary of the April 23, 1946 Senatorial election results
Rank	Candidate		Votes
1.	Vicente Francisco	Liberal	735,671
2.	Vicente Sotto	Popular Front	717,225
3.	José Avelino	Liberal	708,420
4.	Melecio Arranz	Liberal	666,700
5.	Ramon Torres	Liberal	640,477
6.	Tomás Confesor	Nacionalista	627,354
7.	Mariano Jesús Cuenco	Liberal	623,650
8.	Carlos P. Garcia	Nacionalista	617,542
9.	Olegario Clarin	Liberal	611,227
10.	Alejo Mabanag	Nacionalista	608,902
11.	Enrique Magalona	Liberal	591,796
12.	Tomas Cabili	Nacionalista	589,762
13.	José O. Vera	Nacionalista	588,993
14.	Ramón Diokno	Nacionalista	584,598
15.	José E. Romero ^a	Nacionalista	563,816
16.	Salipada Pendatun	Liberal	557,156
17.	Prospero Sanidad ^b	Liberal	556,772
18.	Vicente dela Cruz	Liberal	544,621
19.	Servillano dela Cruz	Liberal	536,995
20.	Pedro Magsalin	Liberal	516,127
21.	Antonio Paguia	Laborite	505,770
22.	Santiago Fonacier	Nacionalista	499,565
23.	Antonio Araneta	Nacionalista	491,054
24.	Emilio M. Javier	Popular Front	481,913
25.	Eduardo Cojuangco Sr	Liberal	481,683
26.	Pedro S. Reyes	Nacionalista	465,987
27.	Jose Altavas	Nacionalista	461,014
28.	Rafael Martinez	Nacionalista	449,534
29.	Vicente Lava	Liberal	431,842
30.	Mariano Garchitorena	Liberal	423,828
31.	Pedro Insua	Nacionalista	403,561
32.	Pascual Azanza	Nacionalista	397,835
33.	Carlos Padilla Sr.	Partido Modernista	75,066
34.	Dionesio Gutierrez	Nacionalista	49,037
35.	Francisco Zandueta	Independent Nacionalista	47,802
36.	Ramon Lopez	Democratic Alliance	44,718
37.	Vicente Ocampo	Partido Modernista	43,872
38.	Jose C. Soto	Partido Modernista	35,408
39.	Asa-ad Usman	Nacionalista	28,924
40.	Timoteo Consing	Nacionalista	27,597
41.	Emilia T. Del Rosario	Partido Modernista	25,586
42.	Manuel Silos	Partido Modernista	23,344
43.	Miguel Anzures	Partido Modernista	20,441
44.	Jose Climaco	Partido Modernista	20,231
45.	Ismael Golez	National Welfare Service Party	17,069
46.	Dominador Santiago	Partido Modernista	16,553
47.	Casiano Rosales	Partido Modernista	14,949
48.	Carlos V. Tolosa	Partido Modernista	13,527
49.	Paul Versoza	National Welfare Service Party	12,094
50.	Godofredo Calub	Partido Modernista	11,498
51.	Jesus Infante	Partido Modernista	10,487
52.	Melchor Lagasca	National Welfare Service Party	10,323
53.	Felix E. Rey	Partido Modernista	9,787
54.	Rosendo Zaldarriaga	Democratic	9,656
55.	Pasto Lavadia	Liberal	7,864
56.	Constancio P. Cecilio	Partido Modernista	7,807
57.	Marcelino Josue	Partido Modernista	4,604

Replaced by Prospero Sanidad, who won an election protest.
^ Replaced José E. Romero upon winning an election protest.

House of Representatives



Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Nacionalista Party	1,069,971	45.78	35	−60
	Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing)	908,740	38.89	49	New
	Democratic Alliance	152,410	6.52	6	New
	Popular Front	62,286	2.67	1	New
	Young Philippines	31,222	1.34	1	New
	Popular Democratic Party	20,089	0.86	1	New
	Laborite Party	3,324	0.14	0	0
	Modernist Party	570	0.02	0	0
	Republican Party	516	0.02	0	0
	Philippine Masses Party	56	0.00	0	0
	Independent	87,770	3.76	5	+2
Total		2,336,954	100.00	98	0

Registered voters/turnout		2,898,604	–
Source: Nohlen, Grotz and Hartmann^[5] and Teehankee^[6]

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References

↑ Celso G. Cabrera. "Rodriguez is Nominated as Osmeña's Running-Mate," Manila Chronicle, January 22, 1946 p. 2
↑ "Conventions Climax Hectic Week," Manila Chronicle This week, January 27, 1946, p. 3
↑ Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos.
Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific.
↑ Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos.
Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific.
↑ Nohlen, Dieter; Grotz, Florian; Hartmann, Christof (eds.). Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook. Vol. 2: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific. Oxford: Oxford University Press..
↑ Teehankee, Julio (2002). "Electoral Politics in the Philippines" (PDF). In Croissant, Aurel (ed.). Electoral Politics in Southeast and East Asia. Singapore: Fiedrich-Ebert-Siftung. pp. 149–202 – via quezon.ph.

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[npwings-3] 1 2 The Nacionalista Party was split into two wings: those who supported Osmeña or the "conservative wing", and those who supported Roxas or the "liberal wing". The liberal wing eventually split off after the election and became the Liberal Party.

[npwings-5] 1 2 The Nacionalista Party was split into two wings: those who supported Osmeña or the "conservative wing", and those who supported Roxas or the "liberal wing". The liberal wing eventually split off after the election and became the Liberal Party.

[1] Celso G. Cabrera. "Rodriguez is Nominated as Osmeña's Running-Mate," Manila Chronicle, January 22, 1946 p. 2

[2] "Conventions Climax Hectic Week," Manila Chronicle This week, January 27, 1946, p. 3

[4] Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos.
Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific.

[6] Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos.
Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific.

[7] Nohlen, Dieter; Grotz, Florian; Hartmann, Christof (eds.). Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook. Vol. 2: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific. Oxford: Oxford University Press..

[8] Teehankee, Julio (2002). "Electoral Politics in the Philippines" (PDF). In Croissant, Aurel (ed.). Electoral Politics in Southeast and East Asia. Singapore: Fiedrich-Ebert-Siftung. pp. 149–202 – via quezon.ph.

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v t e Elections and referendums in the Philippines
General elections	1898 1907 1909 1912 1916 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1935 1941 1943 1946 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1978 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022
Presidential elections	1935 1941 1946 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1981 1986 1992 1998 2004 2010 2016 2022
Senate elections	1916 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1941 1946 1947 1949 1951 1953 1955 1957 1959 1961 1963 1965 1967 1969 1971 1987 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022 Special elections Senate presidential elections
House elections	1898 1907 1909 1912 1916 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1935 1938 1941 1943 1946 1949 1953 1957 1961 1965 1969 1978 1984 1987 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022 Special elections Speakership elections
Constitutional conventions	1934 1970
Local elections	1895 1899 1905 1909 1912 1919 1922 1925 1928 1931 1934 1937 1941 1943 1947 1951 1955 1959 1963 1967 1971 1980 1988 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022
Barangay elections	1960 1962 1964 1968 1972 1979 1982 1989 1994 1997 2002 2007 2010 2013 2018 2023
Referendums	1599 1935 1937 1939 1940 1947 1967 1973 (Jan) 1973 (Jul) 1975 1976 1977 1981 (Apr) 1981 (Jun) 1984 1987
List of elections Local elections and plebiscites in the Philippines