3 reelectionist senators in danger of losing seats

MANILA, Philippines – Three of 5 reelectionist senators are in danger of losing their seats, the unofficial tally of votes as of 8 am Tuesday morning, May 10, show. 

Senator Ralph Recto has so far received about 13.2 million votes, ranking 11th in a race for 12 seats. Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Teofisto Guingona III are outside the Magic 12. They rank 14th and 17th, respectively, with 11.6 million and 9.4 million votes. 

About 5 million votes that have yet to be transmitted are enough to shuffle the rankings, based on Rappler estimates. There are about 55 million voters but the turnout was 81%. Nearly 90% of the results have been transmitted.

Surveys have consistently placed Recto and Osmeña inside the Magic 12, but Guingona has long suffered poorer numbers. 

Two other reelectionist senators have so far been able to stay on top of the race. Senators Franklin Drilon and Vicente Sotto III are ranking 2nd and 3rd, respectively, with more than 17 million and 16 million votes, respectively. 

There are 4 returning senators in the Magic 12 – Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Francis Pangilinan.  

There are 5 relatively new faces in the winning circle. Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva leads the pack, consistently topping the tally since the results started coming in late Monday afternoon, May 9. (READ: Joel Villanueva’s messaging, ‘very good network’ behind rise – Tabunda)

Villanueva also has more than 17 million votes. Surveys show he has enjoyed a steady rise since the start of the campaign period, starting with only 22% support in February and then 31% in the last SWS survey conducted May 1-3. In comparison, all the reelectionist senators suffered declines in their numbers. 

Villanueva and Drilon are the only two senatorial candidates who have so far secured their seats in the Senate, Rappler estimates show. Thirteenth placer former MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, who has less than 12 million votes so far will no longer be able to catch up even if he got a vote in all of the remaining ballots.

The other 4 relatively new faces are former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros, Sarangani Representative and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Valuenzuela City Representative Sherwin Gatchalian, and former justice secretary Leila De Lima.

Aside from senators Osmeña and Guingona, the candidates outside the Magic 12 but still have statistical chances to displace those in the winning circle are Tolentino, Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, and Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno. – Rappler.com