The 2025 Philippine Senate election will be the 35th election of members to the Senate of the Philippines. It will be held on May 12, 2025, within the 2025 Philippine general election. The seats of the 12 senators elected in 2019 will be contested in this election. The senators that will be elected in this election will serve until 2031, joining the winners of the 2022 election to form the Senate's delegation to the 20th Congress of the Philippines, with the senators elected in 2022 serving until 2028.
Migz Zubiri served as Senate president until his resignation on May 20, 2024, after which Francis Escudero took over.
In the 2022 election, the UniTeam, backing the candidacies of eventual president Bongbong Marcos and vice president Sara Duterte, won a plurality of seats in the Senate of the Philippines.[1][2] Leading up to the convention of the 19th Congress, Senators Cynthia Villar and Migz Zubiri, both having run under UniTeam, were viewed as the frontrunners to succeed Senate PresidentTito Sotto, who left the Senate after being term-limited.[3][4][5] After Zubiri presumptively earned enough votes to be elected Senate president and negotiations for a term-sharing agreement failed, Villar withdrew from the contest, leaving Zubiri unopposed for the Senate presidency.[6][7]
Zubiri's term as Senate president was marked by speculation of efforts to unseat him. Such speculation was confirmed by Senator Imee Marcos, who stated that there were plans to oust Zubiri from the Senate presidency, attributing such efforts to pressure that "came from outside the Senate".[8] On May 20, 2024, Zubiri resigned the Senate presidency after 15 senators expressed their support to oust him from the post.[9][10][11] Senator Francis Escudero was nominated as his successor and was elected without objection.[12][13]
Political scientist Julio C. Teehankee observed that a broad united coalition is unlikely to form in 2025 given that the Liberal Party, the traditional political opposition since 2016, has more in common with the ruling Marcos administration and noted that "there is little value in debating" which political faction is the true opposition, noting the varied motivations for opposing an incumbent government.[20]
The Philippines has a 24-member Senate elected at-large. Every three years since 1995, 12 seats are contested. For 2025, the seats last elected in 2019 will be contested. Each voter has 12 votes, of which one can vote for one to twelve candidates, or a multiple non-transferable vote; the twelve candidates with the most votes are elected.
Each party or coalition endorses a slate of candidates, typically not exceeding a 12-person ticket.[23] A party may also choose to invite "guest candidates" to complete its slate.[24] The party may even include, with the candidates' consent, independent candidates and candidates from other parties as the party's guest candidates. Parties also may form coalitions to endorse a multi-party slate of candidates.
Winning candidates are proclaimed by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC). The NBOC usually proclaims senators-elect by batches, if that candidate can no longer fall to worse than twelfth place in the tally. Post-proclamation disputes are handled by the Senate Electoral Tribunal, a body composed of six senators and three justices from the Supreme Court.
Term-limited incumbents
The following are serving a successive six-year term and are barred from seeking reelection.[25]
On January 20, 2024, Binay stated in an interview on DWIZ-AM that she was "50 percent sure" that she would run for mayor of Makati upon the end of her term as senator.[26] She confirmed her bid for the mayoralty on September 9.[27] The incumbent mayor and Binay's sister Abigail is running for senator under the Nationalist People's Coalition.[28]
On October 6, 2024, Pimentel filed to run for representative in Marikina's 1st district, facing off against incumbent mayor Marcelino Teodoro, husband of the incumbent representative Marjorie Ann, after a failed attempt to form an alliance with the local administration.[29][30]
On July 31, 2024, Villar expressed her interest in running for public office in Las Piñas, either as mayor or House representative for the city's at-large district.[31][32] Villar was then later seen as running for Congress.[33] Villar then filed to run as House representative,[34] while her daughter Camille, the incumbent House representative, is running for senator.[35]
On July 2, 2024, President Bongbong Marcos appointed Angara, a term-limited senator, as Secretary of Education.[36][37] On July 18, Angara resigned from the Senate a day before assuming office, leaving his seat vacant until his successor is elected in the regular election.[38][39]
In both chambers of Congress, members are organized into "blocs", akin to parliamentary groups elsewhere. In keeping with the traditions of the Third Philippine Republic which was under a two-party system, there are two main blocs, the majority and minority blocs; this is although the country is now in a multi-party system. Those who voted for the Senate president are from the majority bloc, while those who did not (if there are more than two candidates for the Senate presidency) will vote amongst themselves on who will be the minority bloc. Those who belong to neither bloc shall be the independent minority bloc. Members can also be from the independent bloc. Each bloc can have members from multiple parties. Only the majority and minority blocs have voting privileges in committees.
At the end of the 19th Congress, the majority bloc is composed of members who voted for Escudero for Senate president.[40][41]
ABP-backed candidates with President Marcos at the alliance convention on September 26, 2024
On May 8, 2024, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) and Lakas–CMD signed an alliance agreement at the Manila Polo Club in Makati to form the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas (Alliance for the New Philippines; ABP) for the 2025 general elections.[42] House Speaker Martin Romualdez remarked that the formation of the alliance created the "most powerful political force in our country today", noting the positioning of the PFP as the de facto ruling party in the country and Lakas' status as the largest political party in the House of Representatives.[43]
Romualdez also implied that the coalition plans to include "all major parties",[44] including the Nacionalista Party, which began negotiations with the alliance on July 2.[45][46] President Marcos remarked that the alliance aims to be based "not on political expediency but on ideology" that focuses on unity and a new Philippines.[47] Two parties would sign alliance agreements with the coalition: the Nationalist People's Coalition on May 19,[48] and the National Unity Party on June 29.[49] The Nacionalista Party formally entered the coalition on August 8.[50]
On May 10, former Senator Manny Pacquiao announced his senatorial candidacy as a member of the alliance while remaining a member of PROMDI.[51][52] Reelectionist Senator Imee Marcos, the sister of the president and PFP chairman, noted that she was unsure of her inclusion in the coalition, though the entry of the Nacionalista Party in the alliance ensured her inclusion in its ticket.[53][45] Party leaders under the alliance met on August 19; on the same day, Erwin Tulfo noted that the administration "still has no final senatorial lineup".[54]
On September 26, President Marcos announced the administration's twelve senatorial bets during an event at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.[55]Imee Marcos, the president's sister, opted out of her inclusion in the slate, saying " I chose to stand alone so that my 'adding' (sibling) would no longer be put in a difficult position, and my true friends won't hesitate."[56] On her sister's decision, president Marcos said "that is her choice."[57] The alliance had no plans of dropping or replacing Marcos from the slate though.[58] On their proclamation rally at Laoag, Marcos was presented as one of its candidates.[59]
Former senators Aquino and Pangilinan (pictured left and center) are running together under the management of Senator Hontiveros (pictured right).
At a forum of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) on February 22, 2024, Liberal Party spokesperson and former senator Leila de Lima announced that the party plans to field former senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan (nicknamed "Kiko"), as well as human rights lawyer Chel Diokno of the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), as its senatorial candidates in the upcoming election.[60][61] Aquino confirmed his bid for the Senate on May 14 after being appointed as the chairman of KANP.[62] While former vice president and 2022 presidential candidateLeni Robredo was floated as a possible candidate, Robredo ruled out a bid for the Senate and instead announced a run for the mayoralty of Naga, Camarines Sur,[63][64] though the party remained keen in drafting Robredo for its Senate ticket.[65]
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes, who ran under TRoPa in the 2022 Senate election, proposed that the Liberal Party and its allies "set aside sensitivities for a larger cause" and align with the Marcos administration in the Senate race to ensure "obliteration of the Duterte forces".[66] Party President Edcel Lagman was also open to such arrangement.[67] Political pundits suggest that such a coalition would provide the opposition with more resources during the campaign but may alienate "many groups in the opposition camp who are ideologically opposed to any alliance with other political groups".[68] De Lima disapproved of Trillanes' proposal, emphasizing the need to adhere to the party's principles as a political opposition and identity as "the alternative to the Marcos bloc and the Duterte bloc".[69] Senator Risa Hontiveros concurred with de Lima, stating that while she respects Trillanes's proposition, such an alliance would not form a "genuine opposition".[70]
On September 20, the Liberal Party announced Pangilinan's candidacy for senator.[71][72] Aquino and Pangilinan then launched their "Mga Kaibigan" (Friends) campaign on October 16 at the Bahay ng Alumni at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with Hontiveros serving as their campaign manager.[73] At a campaign event in Bulacan, in November 2024, their campaign adopted the name "KiBam", a portmanteau of their names.[74]
Makabayan-backed candidates at the first day of campaign on February 11, 2025
In an interview during commemorations for the 42nd anniversary of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers on June 26, 2024, term-limited Representative France Castro announced her bid for the Senate in response to open letters from teachers encouraging her to seek a seat in the chamber in 2025.[75][76] Castro added that the Makabayan coalition plans to form a 12-member senate slate for the 2025 elections branded as the "Oposisyon ng Bayan" (Opposition of the Nation) with the aim to form an "alternative slate" to the ruling government.[77][78] The coalition aims to field candidates from marginalized sectors and vowed not to field candidates from political dynasties or influential families.[79] Castro and Representative Arlene Brosas also stated that they were open to form alliances with "true opposition" groups and have entered negotiations with other opposition groups such as the Liberal Party.[80] The slate will be named as "Oposisyon ng Bayan" (transl.people's opposition).[81]
Brosas later announced her Senate bid on July 16.[82][83] Makabayan formally announced its ten-member senatorial slate on August 26, during its National Heroes Day event at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.[84] On September 24, Moro activist Amirah Lidasan announced her run as the 11th Makabayan senatorial candidate.[85] On October 4, all eleven members of its senatorial slate filed their respective candidacies.[86]
In response to the possibility of an alliance between the ruling Marcos administration and the Liberal Party, dela Rosa affirmed that the Dutertes would lead the opposition in such case.[91] On September, at the PDP national assembly, the party formed an alliance with Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma, Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan and the Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte-National Executive Coordinating Committee.[92]
During the filing of candidacies, Rodrigo Duterte ran as mayor of Davao City, his son Sebastian running as vice mayor, and another son Paolo running for representative from Davao City's 1st district.[93] Meanwhile, Go, dela Rosa, and Salvador jointly filed to run for senator.[94] Duterte administration officials Raul Lambino and Jimmy Bondoc also filed their candidacies to run for senator also under PDP.[95] In a January 30, 2025 meeting at Davao City, former president Duterte endorsed all PDP senatorial candidates, including Jayvee Hinlo, and independents Apollo Quiboloy and Rodante Marcoleta.[96] On the proclamation rally held at San Juan, the party endorsed all eight aforementioned candidates, and independent candidate Vic Rodriguez, President Marcos's first Executive Secretary.[97]
The filing of candidacies was from October 1 to 8, 2024, at the Manila Hotel.[98] A total of 184 people registered to run for senator.[99] One withdrew his candidacy.[100] More than a week later, the commission released an initial list of 66 approved candidates.[101] In November, the COMELEC declared 117 nuisance candidates, 14 of which filed motion for reconsideration.[102][103] This includes 2022 election candidate and social media personality Francis Leo Marcos.[104] In December, the COMELEC announced 66 names are on their final list, having received no temporary restraining orders from the Supreme Court.[105]
On January 14, 2025, Chavit Singson announced his withdrawal as a candidate.[111] On the same day, the Supreme Court issued temporary restraining orders preventing the COMELEC from excluding certain aspirants on the ballot, including senatorial aspirant Subair Mustapha.[112] The COMELEC acquiesced to the court's order, and ordered the reprinting of ballots that did not have Mustapha's name on the ballot.[113] Singson made his withdrawal official on January 16; the COMELEC then decided to remove his name on the ballot, as they would have to reprint new ballots anyway.[114] On January 21, the Supreme Court released more injunctions, including adding Francis Leo Marcos on the ballot as a senatorial candidate.[115] Marcos himself withdrew on January 23.[116] The COMELEC then reprinted ballots on January 27, still with 66 names, but with Mustapha's name on it, and without Marcos's and Singson's names.[117]
On February 10, at the eve of campaigning, WIlbert T. Lee withdrew, citing lack of political machinery as the reason.[118] The commission, after receiving Lee's withdrawal said the printing of ballots will not be affected as Lee would remain on the ballot, and votes for him will be considered as stray votes.[119] On February 13, Willie Ong also announced his withdrawal, citing ill health.[120] Ong's wife Liza filed paperwork to make her husband's official on February 21.[121]
This list includes all individuals named by at least 10% of respondents in any of the surveys conducted after the campaign officially began. The top 16 candidates with the highest favorability in each poll are listed below, where the top 12 are marked with a "black line". For a comprehensive list of all individuals included in the surveys, see the main article.
Even prior to the campaign period starting, Imee Marcos and Camille Villar were identified to be the heaviest spenders in political advertisements on television, each reportedly spending 1 billion pesos each.[145]
Campaigning for nationally elected positions, including those for senators, start on February 11, 2025, and ends on May 11, 2025, election eve.[146]
On February 5, the final session day before Congress goes on recess for campaigning, the House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.[147] The Senate then received the articles of impeachment later in the day, an hour or so before the Senate went on recess.[148]
At the start of the campaign period, the Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas held a proclamation rally at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag, Ilocos Norte.[152] In this rally, President Marcos took jabs at some opposition candidates, saying "parang ‘yung mga iba na naging kandidato eh nag-deliver lang yata ng suka eh nabigyan na ng certificate of candidacy" (transl.some looked like they just delivered vinegar but yet was given a certificate of candidacy), with "suka" referring to vinegar), as opposed to their slate's candidates’ track record for public service.[153]
On February 13, PDP also held their proclamation rally at the Club Filipino in San Juan.[59][159] On that proclamation rally, Duterte joked "Let’s just kill incumbent senators so there will be vacancies. If we can kill 15 senators, we can all get in."[160] On the same proclamation rally, Ronald dela Rosa, in response to President Marcos's "suka comments", said that their slate should be called "Team Suka", and that vinegar vendors should not stop oneself from dreaming big.[161] Also in response to allegations that he is a "pro-China" candidate, dela Rosa said "I am eager to wage war there in the West Philippine Sea"[162] This is also after fellow PDP slate member Rodante Marcoleta said that "There is not—there is nothing as" the West Philippine Sea.[163] Marcoleta reversed his statements on February 13, saying "I am not saying it is wrong for us to call [it the] West Philippine Sea, because I said, with or without name, that particular area is ours".[164]
On their proclamation rally at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City, the Partido Lakas ng Masa, in reference to President Marcos's "suka comments", decried the latter's candidates on not showing up for debates. Leody de Guzman labeled the administration's candidates as cowards, while Luke Espiritu called Marcos's statement as arrogant.[165]
Ariel Querubin, a retired marine colonel, and Bonifacio Bosita, a retired police lieutenant colonel, announced their alliance on February 17, calling themselves the "Riding-in-tandem Team".[166]
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