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DPA
MANILA
Nine allies of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte were among the 12 senators voted in in last week’s mid-term elections, official results showed on Wednesday, in a resounding victory for the leader’s administration.
The other three winners in the race for 12 of the Senate’s 24 seats were independents.
No opposition candidate won in a seat in the senatorial race in polls held on May 13, giving Duterte a strong majority in a Senate which had widely been seen as the last bastion of opposition to his administration.
Topping the list with most votes was incumbent senator Cynthia Villar, who ran under a coalition formed by Duterte’s daughter and endorsed by the 74-year-old leader, according to the final tally of the Commission on Elections.
She was followed by Senator Grace Poe, one of the three independent candidates.
Third on the list was Christopher Go, Duterte’s former special assistant dubbed by local media the “national photobomber” for his selfies with international leaders.
In fifth place was ex-police chief Ronald Dela Rosa, who led Duterte’s violent crackdown against illegal drugs that has left more than 5,000 suspects dead since 2016.
Imee Marcos, daughter of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, came eighth despite persistent allegations of human rights abuses and corruption against her family during her father’s 20-year regime.
The 12 new senators will hold a six-year term from July 1 to June 30, 2025.
The election of Duterte allies to the Senate has prompted concerns that upper chamber will become a rubber-stamp body, making it easy for Duterte to push through his controversial proposals, including changes to the constitution.
But Villar assured the public that the Senate would keep its independence and legislate laws that would benefit the majority of Filipinos.
“A strong and independent Senate has always been our goal,” she said in a speech. “The laws we craft or legislate must consider all interests involved.” “Rest assured that we will use our time in the Senate during our new term as your senators to further ensure our continued service to the Filipino people,” she added.
MANILA
Nine allies of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte were among the 12 senators voted in in last week’s mid-term elections, official results showed on Wednesday, in a resounding victory for the leader’s administration.
The other three winners in the race for 12 of the Senate’s 24 seats were independents.
No opposition candidate won in a seat in the senatorial race in polls held on May 13, giving Duterte a strong majority in a Senate which had widely been seen as the last bastion of opposition to his administration.
Topping the list with most votes was incumbent senator Cynthia Villar, who ran under a coalition formed by Duterte’s daughter and endorsed by the 74-year-old leader, according to the final tally of the Commission on Elections.
She was followed by Senator Grace Poe, one of the three independent candidates.
Third on the list was Christopher Go, Duterte’s former special assistant dubbed by local media the “national photobomber” for his selfies with international leaders.
In fifth place was ex-police chief Ronald Dela Rosa, who led Duterte’s violent crackdown against illegal drugs that has left more than 5,000 suspects dead since 2016.
Imee Marcos, daughter of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, came eighth despite persistent allegations of human rights abuses and corruption against her family during her father’s 20-year regime.
The 12 new senators will hold a six-year term from July 1 to June 30, 2025.
The election of Duterte allies to the Senate has prompted concerns that upper chamber will become a rubber-stamp body, making it easy for Duterte to push through his controversial proposals, including changes to the constitution.
But Villar assured the public that the Senate would keep its independence and legislate laws that would benefit the majority of Filipinos.
“A strong and independent Senate has always been our goal,” she said in a speech. “The laws we craft or legislate must consider all interests involved.” “Rest assured that we will use our time in the Senate during our new term as your senators to further ensure our continued service to the Filipino people,” she added.
