Alyansa exec says it was a 'draw, not loss' vs Duterte slate

MANILA, Philippines — The campaign chief of the administration-backed Alyansa Senate slate pointed out emerging with a “draw” against Duterte-backed candidates in the recently concluded midterm elections.

Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager, made the assertion amid claims of defeat, saying the results reflect a balanced Senate rather than a loss for the administration.

Based on the computed final tally, the composition of the top 12 senators presents a nuanced outcome. Five candidates — Bong Go, Bato Dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta, Camille Villar, and Imee Marcos — all carry the weight of either direct endorsement from former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte, or a clear alignment with his political interests.

Meanwhile, the Alyansa slate, heavily promoted by the current administration, also secured five seats in the Senate, with the victories of Erwin Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano and Lito Lapid.

This apparent parity between the two major political forces suggests a divided mandate from the electorate, with neither the administration nor the Duterte-backed candidates achieving a clear dominance in the upper legislative chamber.

Adding an intriguing layer to the results are the victories of Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino, both veteran politicians often described as “wild cards” in this election cycle. While not explicitly part of either the Alyansa or the Duterte-endorsed group, their inclusion in the magic 12 has effectively prevented a clear victory for either faction.

Tiangco said the close Senate race showed voters were split and highly emotional after the House moved to impeach VP Sara Duterte. He explained that Alyansa's support in Mindanao dropped from nine strong candidates to only four after the impeachment issue, which led to fewer campaign events there.

Tiangco believes the impeachment hurt the chances of their senatorial aspirants in Mindanao, except for local candidates where Partido Federal ng Pilipinas bets managed to score decisive wins in key areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 

“To interpret the result of the Senate election as an outright loss for the Alyansa slate is an oversimplification. We may not have swept the top 12, but no one could claim that we suffered a political setback in the race,” Tiangco added.