Alyansa peaking at the right time, candidates say

The bid to file an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is nothing but an act to sabotage the May 12 polls, according to Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates. Photo from Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas 2025/FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate is peaking at the right time, as there are only two days to go before the 2025 midterm elections, candidates said on Friday.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson during the Alyansa press conference in Mandaluyong City said that now is the time for candidates to peak as most voters have locked in their choices.

“Well (it’s) the perfect time to peak, ito ‘yong pinaka-perfect time na mag-peak kasi nga less than 36 hours from now, boboto na ‘yong ating mga kababayan.  So perfect lang, perfect lang ‘yong timing,” Lacson told reporters.

(Well (it’s) the perfect time to peak, this is the perfect time because we have less than 36 hours from now, then the people will cast their vote.  So this is a perfect timing.)

ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo meanwhile said that they expected their numbers at surveys to crash after a while, but it did not happen — leading him to surmise that voters are picking candidates based on individual accomplishment and not party lines.

“Sa akin naman siguro ho napansin ho ninyo na may panahon na bumaba talaga, hindi nagustuhan, pero after a few weeks, ito nga po last week mapapansin natin umangat ulit ‘yong Alyansa, so tinitignan no’ng mga tao individually, ano bang nagawa nito?” Tulfo said.

(For me I think you have observed that there were times that our numbers went down, maybe they did not like us for what happened, but after a few weeks, we have observed that the Alyansa numbers have increased, so maybe people are looking at what candidates have done individually?)

“Kasi, I myself was expecting na maraming mawawala sa Alyansa, papasok ‘yong kabila.. Hindi gano’n po ‘yong punto eh, makikita niyo dalawa lang naman ‘yong pumapasok sa kabila, tapos karamihan Alyansa na, may independent kami, ibig sabihin tinitignan ng mga tao — tama ‘yong sinasabi ng Pangulo, pinili po namin itong mga may experience, hindi po tinitignan ng mga botante na ito, Alyansa, ano bang gagawin,” he added.

(Because, I myself was expecting that many of our Alyansa bets will place outside the winning circle, but that’s not the case, only two of the candidates from the other slate are going in, then many of us are independent candidates — which means that what the President is saying is true, they are picking candidates with experience — they are looking at what our candidates they can do.)

Last March 14, at the previous press conference in Tacloban City, several Alyansa senatorial candidates admitted that former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest three days prior has had an impact on their campaign.

Duterte was taken into custody last March 11, upon returning to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 from a trip to Hong Kong.  Local authorities were assisting the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) in enforcing an arrest order from the International Criminal Court.

READ: Duterte arrest has affected Alyansa campaign, senatorial bets admit 

Then during an ambush interview in San Fernando City, Pampanga last April 23, Tulfo said that he expected a backlash and lower survey rankings after Duterte’s arrest.  Tulfo was asked about this after many were concerned if Alyansa feels threatened with the rise in popularity of some Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) candidates, the lineup backed by Duterte.

READ: We expected backlash, drop in surveys after Duterte’s arrest, says Tulfo 

But with elections being just two days away, Alyansa is still faring well in surveys, with at least eight of the 11 candidates entering the Magic 12.

According to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released on Thursday, Tulfo leads the survey, getting 45 percent of the respondents’ votes, followed by his other colleagues:

• former Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III (3rd, 37 percent)
• Senator Lito Lapid (4th, 34 percent)
• Lacson (6th, 32 percent)
• Makati Mayor Abby Binay (7th, 31 percent)
• Deputy Speaker Camille Villar (9th, 30 percent)
• Senator Pia Cayetano (10th, 29 percent)
• Senator Bong Revilla (11th, 29 percent)

READ: Erwin Tulfo leads final SWS survey on Senate race

A separate survey from OCTA Research meanwhile showed that eight of the 11-person slate are inside the Magic 12 — including Tulfo, Sotto, Cayetano, Revilla, Binay, Lapid, Lacson, and Villar.

Sotto meanwhile said that he believes those who will win on Monday will be ordained by God.

“Sa akin naman kasi I believe that God has his ways eh, he knows what timing he wants.  Those who will win on Monday and will have the votes of the people, will definitely be ordained by God,” he added.