Alyansa bets head to polls, cast their midterm votes
Metro Manila, Philippines - Candidates from the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition have cast their votes in their respective polling sites on Monday, May 12.
Re-electionist Lito Lapid, who is a senior citizen, was the first to vote among the Alyansa bets during the early voting which opened at 5 a.m. Meanwhile, ACT-CIS Party-List Rep. Erwin Tulfo cast his vote at Kamuning Elementary School in Quezon City once the polling sites opened for the general public at 7 a.m.
Ping Lacson, who is also seeking a return in the Senate after an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2022, went to his Imus, Cavite hometown to cast his vote.
Tito Sotto, Lacson’s running mate in the last national elections, is also eyeing a Senate comeback. He voted in Quezon City with wife Helen Gamboa and son reelectionist Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.
Boxing-champ-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao voted in his hometown, traveling back to Sarangani to register his vote.
Bong Revilla, Francis Tolentino, and other incumbent senators looking to extend their position in the Senate also registered their votes today.
Outgoing Makati Mayor Abby Binay and re-electionist Pia Cayetano also voted in their respective poll sites later in the afternoon.
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos voted at the Highway Hills Integrated School in Mandaluyong, City.
In an OCTA Research survey released days before the midterm elections, 10 out of the 11 Alyansa candidates are predicted to win a Senate seat.
The April 20 to 24 survey said outgoing ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is the coalition’s top performer with 52.7 percent voter preference, placing him in the 1st to 2nd range.
OCTA’s data said only Tolentino may not make the winning circle with only 25.2 percent support, ranking 13th to 22nd.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said more than 68.6 million people are registered to vote on election day. Polling sites opened at 5 a.m. for seniors, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, while voting for the general public began at 7 a.m.
