Another surprise: Serge, TG are out

Nearly half of the 12 senators expected to comprise the 17th Congress will be fresh faces.

The rest include three reelectionist senators, and four former senators making a comeback.

Based on partial, unofficial results, the new faces are four former House representatives: Former party-list representative and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Joel Villanueva; champion boxer and former Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, former Akbayan Party-list representative Risa Hontiveros,  and Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian. A fifth is former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Among the incumbent senators seeking reelection, Franklin Drilon, Vicente Sotto III and Ralph Recto are in the top 12. Apparently unsuccessful in their reelection bids were Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Teofisto Guingona III, currently ranked 14th and 17th.

Senate comeback

The rest of the names in the top 12 are former senators Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Francis Pangilinan and Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Zubiri, who ranks sixth place so far, said in a statement the results of the senatorial race indicated “Filipinos voted for strong action, not politics-as-usual, in Monday’s elections.”

Zubiri joined the Senate in 2007, but resigned four years later after an electoral tribunal upheld allegations that his 12th place finish was a result of poll fraud, proclaiming Aquilino Pimentel III as the actual 12th winning senator.

Among the new faces, Villanueva is an ally of President Aquino and ran as an administration candidate. His second place ranking, only a few thousand votes behind top-placer Drilon, came as a bit of a surprise because he had not ranked that highly in surveys.

Pacquiao is a world champion boxer who was the Sarangani representative before deciding to run for the Senate. He won despite a dismal attendance record in the House of Representative, reporting for only four days in 2014.

For Hontiveros, her third attempt proved to be the charm. She unsuccessfully ran for the Senate in two previous elections.

After failing to land in the top 12 during the 2013 race where she was an administration candidate, Hontiveros was appointed to the PhilHealth board.

Gatchalian is the son of tycoon William Gatchalian. Several family members have also joined politics—brother Rex has just been reelected Valenzuela mayor, while another brother Wesley has been elected Valenzuela representative, Sherwin’s old post.

De Lima served as Justice Secretary in the Aquino administration. She went up against the influential religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo after one of its former ministers filed cases against its leaders.