By Brian Campued
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Saturday called on senators-elect to push for electoral reforms and craft laws that aim to make the conduct of elections more convenient for Filipinos, including allowing senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) to vote days before Election Day and the use of private establishments as voting precincts.
Garcia made the call during the proclamation ceremony of the 12 winning senators from the May 12 midterm elections held at The Manila Hotel Tent City and attended by Senators-elect Bong Go, Bam Aquino, Bato Dela Rosa, Erwin Tulfo, Rodante Marcoleta, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, Lito Lapid, and Imee Marcos.
Senator-elect Kiko Pangilinan is in the United States for his daughter’s graduation and was represented at the proclamation venue by his sister.
“Kayo po ay ginawaran ng pambihirang mandato—isang tiwalang ipinagkaloob ng mamamayan bunga ng kanilang kamalayan, pag-asa, at paninindigan,” Garcia said.
“Sa bawat boto na inyong natanggap isinilid ng ating taumbayan…ang aming mga pangarap at paniniwala sa inyong mga abilidad at paninindigan nang may pag-asa na sa inyong mga kamay maitataguyod ang dangal at kapakanan ng buong bansa,” he added.
Based on the National Certificate of Canvass, the top 12 senators received the following total number of votes:
- Christopher ‘Bong’ Go – 27,121,073
- Bam Aquino – 20,971,899
- Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa – 20,773,946
- Erwin Tulfo – 17,118,881
- Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan – 15,343,229
- Rodante Marcoleta – 15,250,723
- Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson – 15,106,111
- Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III – 14,832,996
- Pia Cayetano – 14,573,430
- Camille Villar – 13,651,274
- Lito Lapid – 13,394,102
- Imee Marcos – 13,339,227
Historic voter turnout
The Comelec chief also highlighted the historic voter turnout for the 2025 polls, which he attributed to the active participation of the youth voters.
More than 57 million or 82.2% of the total registered Filipino voters have cast their votes for the May 12 elections—the highest voter turnout for the Philippine midterm elections so far, according to Garcia.
“Isang patunay ito na unti-unti, mas marami nang mga Pilipino ang mulat sa kapangyarihang taglay ng kanilang boto, at sa bisa ng balota para sa magandang bukas,” Garcia said.
“At sa hanay ng mga bumoto, namukod-tangi ang lakas ng tinig ng kabataan—ang millennials at Gen Zs, na madalas na napagkakamalang tahimik o abala sa sarili nilang mundo, ay buong-giting na nakisangkot, nakibahagi, at tumindig para sa ating kinabukasan. Hindi na sila maaaring paratangan o pagbintangan na nananatili sa gilid ng kasaysayan,” the poll body chair said.
Based on Comelec data as of Jan. 23, 2025, there are around 23,087,980 millennial voters and about 18,324,381 Gen Z voters out of 68,431,965 registered Filipino voters.
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