Drilon knocks Villanueva out of top position

REELECTIONIST Senate President Franklin Drilon is now leading the partial, unofficial count for the senatorial race, dislodging newcomer Joel Villanueva from the top spot.

With 93.28 percent of precincts counted as of 5:43 p.m., Drilon had 17,748,436 votes, followed closely by Villanueva with 17,706,902, based on the unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.

Both are administration candidates.

In third place was incumbent Sen. Tito Sotto with 16,473,166, followed by returning Sen. Panfilo Lacson with 16,190,291.

Richard Gordon, another returning senator, was fifth with 15,966,951, followed by Juan Miguel Zubiri with 15,331,515 votes.

Former party-list representative Risa Hontiveros, who is on her third try for a Senate seat, was in seventh place with 15,221,216 votes.

Next were boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao with 15,216,401 votes, former Sen. Francis Pangilinan with 15,181,333, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian with 14,376,920, and incumbent Sen. Ralph Recto with 13,580,997.

In 12th place was former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima with 13,486,623 votes.

Former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino was 13th with 12,260,315 votes while incumbent Sen. Sergio Osmeña III was in 14th place with 12,079,239.