Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco says the Administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate didn't lose to the so-called "DuterTEN" during last week's mid-term elections--rather, it was a clear draw.
“To interpret the result of the Senate election as an outright loss for the Alyansa slate is an oversimplification," said Tiangco, who served as campaign manager of the 11 senatorial candidates endorsed by President Marcos.
The DuterTEN, on the other hand, refers to Senate hopefuls who support the detained formee president Rodrigo Duterte.
Rather than a defeat for the administration, the May 12 polls reflect a "balanced Senate", according to Tiangco.
As per the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) final and official tally of votes, the five pro-Duterte candidates who entered the winners' circle were Christopher "Bong" Go, Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, Rodante Marcoleta, Camille Villar, and Imee Marcos.
Meanwhile, the Alyansa slate--heavily promoted by Marcos hismelf--also secured five seats in the Senate, with the victories of Erwin Tulfo, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, and Lito Lapid.
This apparent parity between the two major political forces suggests a divided mandate from the electorate, with neither the administration nor the Duterte-backed candidates achieving a clear dominance in the upper legislative chamber.
Rounding up the "Magic 12" were two candidates who aren't explicitly part of either Alansya or DuterTEN. These are Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.
"We may not have swept the top twelve, but no one could claim that we suffered a political setback in the race,” said Tiangco, who nonetheless argued that it was inaccurate to paint the results as being a straightforward victory or defeat for either political alignment.