The Senate Race

   Five incumbent congressmen, namely: Noynoy Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Joseph Escudero, Prospero Pichay Jr., and Juan Miguel Zubiri have set their sights for a seat in the Upper House.

Six candidates are former senators. Senators Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, Tessie Aquino Oreta, John Henry Osmeña, and Vicente Sotto III served during the 12th Congress, and Nikki Coseteng is from the 11th Congress.

Two candidates are outgoing governors: Chavit Singson of Ilocos Sur and Vic Magsaysay of Zambales. Two are former cabinet members. Zosimo Paredes was the executive director of the VFA Commission and Michael Defensor, who after serving a term in Congress from 1998-2001, held the environment portfolio and became President Arroyo’s Chief of Staff.

The batch also includes:
• 4 lawyers – Antonio Estrella, Oliver Lozano, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Adrian Sison
• 3 actors – Richard Gomez, Cesar Montano, and Victor Wood
• 2 businessmen – Felix Cantal and Jamalul Kiram III
• 2 journalists – Melchor Chavez and Ruben Enciso

Completing the list of the 37 senatorial candidates are a physician (Martin Bautista), an educator (Sonia Roco), an engineer (Joselito Cayetano), a retired PNP officer (Eduardo Orpilla), and a former AFP officer (Antonio Trillanes IV).

Should the latest Philippine Daily Inquirer-Social Weather Stations survey of 14-17 April 2007 materialize, the members of the 14th congress will have a younger set of legislators. Half of the Senate will be under 50 years old. This will bring down the mean age to 55 years from the 60.5 years mean of the 13th Congress.

Graduates of the Senate

Four incumbent senators can no longer run in the May 2007 Senate race, while one senator, though still eligible for a reelection bid, did not run.

Senators Franklin Drilon, Juan Flavier, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Sergio Osmeña III are serving their second and last terms. They served in the Senate for two consecutive Congresses starting in 1995 then in 2001.

Senator Juan Flavier became popular for his Let’s Doh It! slogan as the Secretary of Health prior to his Senate post. His Health department record gave him the fifth slot in the 1995 senatorial elections. Senator Flavier attended the most number of sessions in the Senate and based on the third regular session journals, he has a perfect attendance and was never late! He has been the poorest of the senators with a net worth of P3.49 million in 2005. His office spent P10.2 million in 2005 making him the second least spender next to Senator Joker Arroyo. When he ran for reelection in 2001, he obtained the second highest vote.

The third placer in the May 2001 election was Senator Sergio Osmeña. Prior to being an elective official, he was a successful businessman serving as a director of institutions such as ABS-CBN Foundation, San Miguel Brewery (HK), Ltd., PNB Republic Bank and San Miguel Corporation. He translated this expertise into laws he authored and co-authored – Retail Trade Liberalization Act, Government Procurement Reform Act, Multi-National Companies Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Senator Franklin Drilon held the Senate Presidency position the longest even if he shared it twice with former Senator Renato Cayetano and then with Senator Villar. He is also the President of the Liberal Party who recently won a petition before the Supreme Court nullifying the election of new officers headed by the party’s Chairman, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza. As member of the Senate, he also won several petitions before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of controversial Presidential directives – EO 464, PP 1017 and Calibrated Pre-emptive Response. Since he became a senator in 1995, he attended the most number of sessions, leaving the hall only when he was on official mission locally or abroad.

Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr. incurred the most absences (30, which includes 24 absences filed as sick leave) during the second regular session (July 2005 – June 2006) due to prostate tumor which he had operated in the US. During the third regular session (July 2006 – February 2007), he was only absent thrice. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Food and Agriculture which investigated the P728 million fertilizer fund allegedly used as campaign fund of President Arroyo in 2004. The Senate committee cited in contempt Agriculture Undersecretary Joc Joc Bolante for non-appearance in the Senate hearings.

Finally, Senator Loi Ejercito is not running for another term in the Senate. She sponsored laws on health and demography such as The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act (RA9208) and Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act (RA9262). She also authored the National Health Insurance Program (RA 9241), Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165) and the No Smoking Act (RA 9211).

Philippine Daily Inquirer - Social Weather Stations Survey for Senators 14 - 17 April 2007
Candidate Party Ticket

1 Legarda, Loren B. Nationalist People’s Coalition Genuine Opposition
2 Villar, Manuel Jr. B. Nacionalista Party Genuine Opposition
3 Escudero, Francis Joseph G. Nationalist People’s Coalition Genuine Opposition
4 Lacson, Panfilo M. United Opposition Genuine Opposition
5 Pangilinan, Francis N. Liberal Party Independent
6 Recto, Ralph G. Lakas-CMD Team Unity
7 Angara, Edgardo J. Laban Team Unity
8 Arroyo, Joker P. Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Team Unity
9 Cayetano, Alan Peter S. Nacionalista Party Genuine Opposition
10 Sotto, Vicente C. III Nationalist People’s Coalition Team Unity
11 Honasan, Gregorio B. Independent Independent
12 Pimentel, Aquilino D.L. PDP-Laban Genuine Opposition
13 Aquino, Benigno Simeon III C. Liberal Party Genuine Opposition
14 Zubiri, Juan Miguel F. Lakas-CMD Team Unity
15 Roco, Sonia M. Aksyon Demokratiko Genuine Opposition
16 Montano, Cesar D. Lakas-CMD Team Unity
17 Defensor, Michael T. Lakas-CMD Team Unity
18 Osmeña, John Henry C. United Opposition Genuine Opposition
19 Pichay, Prospero Jr. A. Lakas-CMD Team Unity
20 Magsaysay, Vicente P. Lakas-CMD Team Unity

Members of the 13th Congress in the Senate (by Years in Office)

Senators Party Years in Office Term

1 ANGARA, Edgardo J.* LDP 2001-2007 1
2 ARROYO, Joker P.* Independent 2001-2007 1
3 DRILON, Franklin M. LP 2001-2007 2
4 EJERCITO-ESTRADA, Luisa P. PMP 2001-2007 1
5 FLAVIER, Juan M. LAKAS-CMD 2001-2007 2
6 LACSON, Panfilo M.* Independent 2001-2007 1
7 MAGSAYSAY, Ramon Jr. B. Independent 2001-2007 2
8 OSMEÑA, Sergio III R. Independent 2001-2007 2
9 PANGILINAN, Francis N.* LP 2001-2007 1
10 RECTO, Ralph G.* NP 2001-2007 1
11 VILLAR, Manuel Jr. B.* NP 2001-2007 1

1 BIAZON, Rodolfo G. LP 2004-2010 2
2 CAYETANO-SEBASTIAN, Pilar Juliana S. Independent 2004-2010 1
3 DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO, Miriam PRP 2004-2010 1
4 ENRILE, Juan Ponce Sr. Independent 2004-2010 1
5 ESTRADA, Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito PMP 2004-2010 1
6 GORDON, Richard J. Independent 2004-2010 1
7 LAPID, Manuel “Lito” M. LAKAS-CMD 2004-2010 1
8 LIM, Alfredo S. KKK-LABAN 2004-2010 1
9 MADRIGAL, Ma. Ana Consuelo A. S. PMP 2004-2010 1
10 PIMENTEL, Aquilino Jr. Q. PDP-LABAN 2004-2010 2
11 REVILLA, Ramon “Bong” Jr. B. LAKAS-CMD 2004-2010 1
12 ROXAS, Manuel II A. LP 2004-2010 1

* Running for Senator in May 2007

Project Manager  
Eric O. Alvia                                                                                                                     

Research Associate                                                                                                       Patrick P. Chua

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Christian V. Cruz