Following the unexpected loss of several administration-backed senatorial candidates in the 2025 midterm elections, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed readiness to collaborate with all newly elected officials, regardless of their political affiliation.
Despite early pre-election surveys predicting dominance by Marcos’ slate, the May 12 vote delivered a mixed outcome. Candidates allied with Vice President Sara Duterte and other political blocs managed to block a full sweep by the administration, disrupting Marcos’ bid for a Senate majority.
Among the top-performing candidates were Duterte-aligned lawmakers, including Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Bato dela Rosa, Sen. Imee Marcos, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, and Rep. Camille Villar. Notably, Villar appeared on both Marcos’ and Duterte’s slates. Administration bets like Sen. Lito Lapid, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and former senators Ping Lacson and Tito Sotto still secured spots in the “Magic 12.”
Adding to the surprise were former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, both previously considered underdogs. Neither affiliated with Duterte nor Marcos, Aquino landed in second place, while Pangilinan ranked fifth. Their victories mark potential gains for the Senate’s minority bloc, currently led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros. With Sen. Koko Pimentel’s term ending, Hontiveros was previously expected to stand alone.
Marcos appeared undeterred by the election outcome. In his first statement after the results emerged, he emphasized continuity in public service despite electoral losses.
“We may not have won every seat, but our work and mission continue,” Marcos said. “Public service goes beyond elections. The work of nation-building needs all who are ready to serve.”
He also extended an olive branch to all winners, saying, “Governance is a shared responsibility… To the newly elected, regardless of party or coalition, I extend my hand. Let us move forward together—with open minds and a common purpose.”
Marcos concluded his remarks with, “Sa gobyernong tapat, kasama ang lahat,” a line reminiscent of former Vice President Leni Robredo’s 2022 campaign slogan, “Sa gobyernong tapat, angat buhay lahat.” It is unclear if the similarity was deliberate.
Robredo, who lost to Marcos in 2022, made a political comeback as mayor of Naga City. Her former running mate, Pangilinan, now returns to the Senate alongside Aquino. Meanwhile, Marcos’ political alliance with Duterte has grown increasingly strained.