The 2025 Philippine midterm elections, held on May 12, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the country’s political landscape. With over 68 million registered voters casting ballots for more than 18,000 positions, including 12 Senate seats, 317 House of Representatives seats, and thousands of local offices, the elections were a referendum on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s leadership and a battleground for the ongoing feud between the Marcos and Duterte political dynasties. This SEO-optimized article dives into the most recent data on the election results, highlights key winners, and explores the implications for the Philippines’ future, all while offering a humanized perspective for readers seeking clarity on this complex event.
The 2025 Midterm Elections: A Snapshot
On May 12, 2025, approximately 68.43 million Filipinos participated in the midterm elections, choosing leaders for the 20th Congress of the Philippines and various local positions. The elections were notable for their scale, with voters selecting 12 senators, 254 district representatives, 63 party-list representatives, and 17,942 local officials, including governors, mayors, and councilors. Additionally, the polls set the stage for the upcoming Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary elections in October 2025.
The elections were the first to use Automated Counting Machines (ACMs) from South Korea’s Miru Systems, replacing the previously used Smartmatic system, which was disqualified due to alleged anomalies. Despite concerns about transmission delays and incomplete data, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reported a generally peaceful process, with 76.98% of precincts transmitting results by 11:44 PM on May 12.
Senate Race: A Divided Nation
The Senate race was the focal point of the 2025 elections, as it reflected the deep political divide between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte. The 12 senators elected will serve until 2031, joining the 12 senators elected in 2022 to form the Senate’s delegation to the 20th Congress. The results also have implications for Duterte’s impeachment trial, tentatively set for July 2025, as the Senate will act as jurors.
Top Senate Winners (Partial, Unofficial Results)
As of 9:55 PM on May 12, 2025, with 78% of precincts reporting, partial and unofficial results from Comelec’s Transparency Media Server showed the following leaders in the Senate race:
Bong Go (PDP, Right): Leading with 47% of the vote, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, a Duterte loyalist seeking re-election, topped the “Magic 12.” His strong performance reflects continued support for the Duterte camp.
Bam Aquino (KANP, Center-left): Former Senator Bam Aquino secured second place with 37%, a surprise comeback for the opposition-aligned candidate.
Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa (PDP, Right): With 36%, Dela Rosa, another Duterte ally, held a strong position, though down 4% from his 2019 performance.
Lito Lapid: Rounding out the top 12, incumbent Senator Lapid maintained a steady presence.
The results indicate a near-even split between Marcos and Duterte-backed candidates, with four Duterte allies projected to win seats, giving Vice President Duterte a foothold in the Senate. This balance could influence her impeachment trial, where a two-thirds majority is needed to convict her on allegations of corruption and an assassination plot.
Surprise Performances
Unofficial tallies showed unexpected gains for independent candidates unaffiliated with either the Marcos or Duterte camps, suggesting voter fatigue with dynasty politics. These independents broke into the “Magic 12,” challenging pre-election surveys that favored established names.
Party-List Race: Akbayan Takes the Lead
The party-list race, which allocates up to 20% of House seats to marginalized sectors, saw fierce competition. As of 9:05 PM on May 12, Akbayan Party-list led with 2.22 million votes, followed by Duterte Youth (1.72 million) and Romualdez-led Tingog Party-List (1.22 million). Party-list groups securing at least 2% of total votes are guaranteed one seat, with additional seats allocated to meet the 20% quota. Akbayan’s strong showing reflects growing support for progressive platforms.
Local Elections: Notable Wins
Local races also drew significant attention, with several high-profile outcomes:
Rodrigo Duterte (Davao City Mayor): Despite his detention at The Hague for alleged crimes against humanity, former President Rodrigo Duterte won a landslide victory to reclaim the mayorship of Davao City, with his son as vice mayor. This result underscores the enduring influence of the Duterte family in their southern stronghold.
Leni Robredo (Naga City Mayor): Former Vice President Leni Robredo led the mayoral race in Naga City, a testament to her grassroots support and resilience after her 2022 presidential loss.
Weslie Gatchalian (Valenzuela City Mayor): Incumbent Mayor Gatchalian secured re-election, continuing the Gatchalian clan’s dominance in Valenzuela.
Challenges and Controversies
The 2025 elections were not without issues. The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) reported discrepancies in result transmission, with only 30% of data received by their systems despite Comelec’s claim of 76.37% at 8:45 PM on May 12. These inconsistencies fueled public suspicion of possible manipulation, though no evidence has been confirmed.
Election-related violence was another concern. The Philippine National Police recorded 35 incidents since January 2025, resulting in 13 deaths, with the highest cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region and BARMM. Notable incidents included a candidate’s death in Maguindanao del Sur and an ambush in Buluan.
Vote-buying remained a persistent issue, with Comelec summoning 213 candidates for complaints, including 600 reported cases. The agency also disqualified candidates for inappropriate remarks and cybercrime violations, such as a vice-mayoral candidate in Isabela who posted a video on tampering election results.
The Marcos-Duterte Feud: A Defining Narrative
The elections were dominated by the bitter rivalry between President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, which unraveled after their united front in 2022. The feud escalated in February 2025 when Duterte was impeached by the House for alleged “high crimes,” including corruption and an assassination plot against Marcos. She denies the allegations, framing them as political vendettas.
The Senate race was critical, as elected senators will serve as jurors in Duterte’s impeachment trial. Marcos’s coalition, Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, aimed to secure enough seats to bolster his influence, while Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) endorsed candidates to protect her political future. The near-even split in Senate wins suggests neither side achieved a decisive victory, potentially complicating the impeachment process.
Innovations and Inclusivity
The 2025 elections introduced several advancements:
Internet Voting: For the first time, overseas Filipino voters in 77 polling posts used internet voting, complementing in-person voting at embassies.
Accessible Polling: Comelec implemented Priority Polling Places for seniors, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, alongside polling places for Indigenous Peoples and detainees.
Miru Systems ACMs: The new voting technology aimed to enhance transparency, though transmission delays raised concerns.
These measures reflect efforts to make the electoral process more inclusive, particularly for marginalized groups.
Implications for the Philippines
The 2025 election results signal a divided electorate, with neither Marcos nor Duterte securing a clear mandate. The strong performance of independents and progressive party-lists like Akbayan suggests a growing desire for alternatives to dynasty politics. However, the persistence of political dynasties, exemplified by Duterte’s Davao win and Gatchalian’s Valenzuela victory, underscores their enduring grip.
The Senate’s composition will shape legislative priorities and the impeachment trial’s outcome. A balanced Senate could lead to gridlock or compromise, depending on coalition dynamics. Locally, wins by figures like Robredo highlight the power of grassroots movements, while Duterte’s victory raises questions about accountability amid his international legal challenges.
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