Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva was surprised with the current state of national election results for Senatorial candidates as he dominated the senatorial race. Joel Villanueva made a surprising upset in the senatorial race despite the fact that he faces some of the veteran politicians who made it to the Magic 12.
The junior politician, Joel Villanueva dislodged Senate President Franklin Drilon from the top spot although Drilon dominated the results of various survey results conducted by different agencies.
The former CIVAC Party-list Representative, Joel Villanueva was also endorsed by his father’s political party Bangon Pilipinas Movement and the entire Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church with millions of their supporters nationwide.
At around 8:20 PM of March 9, with a total of 62.94 percent of the votes transmitted, TESDA head Villanueva of Liberal Party got 13,240,512 votes, slightly ahead of Drilon, who was consistently at the top of the pre-election polls but had to settle in second place with 12,975,783.
The figures were based on the Inquirer’s partial and unofficial tally using data from the Commission on Elections’ transparency server.
Aside from Villanueva, ranking at the No. 3 spot is incumbent Sen. Vicente Sotto III with 2,518,474, while his close friend, comebacking senatorial candidate Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, had received 12,222,289 so far.
Senatorial returnee Richard Gordon also secured his spot in the Magic 12 by consistently ranking at fifth place with 12,204,437 votes. Former Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros may have succeeded in her third attempt, firm at sixth place with 11,390,509 votes.
Juan Miguel Zubiri, who resigned from the Senate in 2011 over allegations of electoral fraud, was close behind at seventh place, with 11,226,367 votes. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, another comebacking senator, was at eighth place, with 11,201,615 votes.
Ranking at 9th to 15th are Manny Pacquiao, Sherwin Gatchalian, Ralph Recto, Sherwin Gatchalian, Leila de Lima, Francis Tolentino, Serge Osmeña III, and Teofisto “TG” Guingona III.
