MANILA, Philippines (Updated, 4:13 p.m.) — Half-brothers Sen. JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada—both banking on the hugely popular name of a political dynasty in San Juan City where their father was a former mayor—are still out of the winners’ circle.
According to the partial unofficial tally by the Commission on Elections as of 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, JV ranked 13th with 13,857,752 votes, while Jinggoy, who is moving to repair a political career beset by graft and plunder charges, placed 15th with 11,012,513 votes.
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The partial, unofficial results also showed former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. as well as re-electionists Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Sen. Nancy Binay.
Revilla, who is aiming to make a political comeback after his plunder acquittal placed 10th with 14,141,793 votes.
Pimentel climbed to 11th place with 14,129,736 votes. Binay sat at the edge of the so-called Magic 12 with 14,105,239 votes.
Nacionalista Party stalwart Cynthia Villar, who topped Pulse Asia surveys shortly before the May 13 elections, emerged as the frontrunner with 24,463,539 votes. Another reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe came in second with 21,385,655 votes.
Duterte-backed candidates occupy winners' circle
Administration-backed candidates continue to dominate the Senate race the unofficial results.
Former presidential aide Christopher “Bong” Go placed third with 19,835,271 votes, followed by former Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano (4th) with 19,120,515 votes, former top cop Bato Dela Rosa (5th) with 18,228,049 votes, Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara (6th) with 17,588,135 votes, actor Lito Lapid (7th) with 16,445,145 votes, late dictator’s daughter Imee Marcos (8th) with 15,348,865 votes and former MMDA chief Francis Tolentino (9th) with 14,929,483 votes.
Bets from the opposition Otso Diretso coalition continue to lag behind re-electionist. Sen. Bam Aquino placed 14th with 13,745,059 votes, while former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas ranked 16th with 9,563,954 votes.
The unofficial, partial tally represents 94.85% of election results processed.
The Commission on Elections' transparency servers suffered from glitches extending from late Monday to early Tuesday before resuming transmission of partial, unofficial tallies past 1 a.m.