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MANILA, Philippines – In a turnout not predicted by any survey, and shocking even their supporters, former senators Benigno “Bam” Aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan are so far cozy in their top 5 spots in the senatorial election, with 80.22% of precincts transmitting results.
This is an impressive finish for the liberal faction of the opposition, after upsets in 2019 and 2022.
As of 4:31 am Tuesday, May 13, partial unofficial results from the Comelec Media Server peg Aquino at Number 2 with 16.79 million votes, and Pangilinan at Number 5 with 12.28 million, far exceeding expectations if it were based on surveys which showed them both just scratching the precipice of the Magic 12.
Aquino said on the night of the elections, May 12, that he was “very, very surprised.” He thanked supporters in person at the campaign team’s watch party in Quezon City, and, when he walked into the room, there was a sense of certainty that Aquino had got it in the bag.
Aquino said he and his team had expected he would win, maybe place eighth, but not Number 2.
“Very, very surprised, siyempre masaya, but sobrang unexpected neto, kahit ‘yung team ko unexpected sa kanila na ganito kataas. We had a good feeling pasok kami, pero ‘yung ganito kataas hindi namin ine-expect,” Aquino told reporters.
(I’m very, very surprised, and of course I’m happy, but this is really unexpected. Even my own team didn’t expect we would rank this high. We had a good feeling we would win, but didn’t expect it to be this big.)
At Pangilinan’s watch party in Cubao, Quezon City, on Monday evening, his team and supporters screamed at the television screen at the first relay of votes earlier on election night, showing him at the upper crust of the Magic 12. Pangilinan dialed in from home to thank them, and on Zoom told reporters he credited relentless campaigning for his good finish.
Saying his volunteers were the “heart and soul” of an underfunded campaign, Pangilinan said: “Tuloy-tuloy ang ating sigasig, wala tayong pinalampas, ‘ika nga eh walang pakundangan ang ating panunuyo.” (We persisted, took every opportunity. We tirelessly courted the voters.)
Both Aquino and Pangilinan cited the last minute game changers, such as pivotal endorsements from local executives and big groups.
“Of course, Iglesia, JIL, MILF, MNLF, big groups na solid voters ‘yun, malaking bagay ‘yun, marami ring LGUs,” said Aquino, referring to the bloc-voting Iglesia ni Cristo, which put him on their Magic 8, the religious group Jesus is Lord, and the Bangsamoro groups Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front.
Pangilinan was also endorsed by the MILF, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu, and the Remullas of Cavite.
Pangilinan said that former vice president Leni Robredo, who also won as mayor of Naga, has already sent him a congratulatory message and that “she’s very happy” with the turnout not just for the Kiko-Bam tandem. The party-list organization that Robredo endorsed, Mamamayang Liberal, is so far in the winning circle. Its first nominee is former Leila de Lima.
“Our coalition from the 2022 campaign — this is a win for us,” said Pangilinan.
He reserved any further statement on whether he could declare a stronger opposition after this. “I’d rather not preempt,” he said.
COMEBACK BID. Former senator Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan and wife Sharon Cuneta cast their vote for the 2025 midterm elections at the Inchican Elementary School in Silang, Cavite, on May 12, 2025. Political observers are watching the new configuration of the Senate, as the senators will be sitting as judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in July.
Pangilinan said he did not believe the news at first. “Sa dami ng fake news na [natatanggap] ko araw-araw noong kampanya, totoo ba ‘to?” (Given all the fake news I had been getting throughout the campaign, would this one be true?)
Aquino said he purposely did not monitor the news, and watched a children’s program with his toddlers, until he was forced to check a phone already buzzing with congratulatory messages.
During the 90-day campaign, Aquino and Pangilinan maximized the wider wiggle room that opened up for them because of the Uniteam split. It ushered in unexpected endorsements, and their ground volunteers were able to maximize the resources made available to them by local support which were previously not there, especially in 2019 when the opposition was wiped out.
“We surrendered everything to the Lord. Ginawa na natin lahat (We already did everything),” said Pangilinan. He said he believes he made headway with the message “na kailangan bigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga naniniwalang may pag-asa pa ang Pilipinas (that we need to give a chance to those who believe there’s still hope for the Philippines).”
“The next few days, magpapasalamat tayo (we will give thanks), and soon after magtatrabaho tayo para sa Pilipinas (we will start working for the Philippines),” said Aquino.
– Rappler.com
