# 1987 Philippine Senate election

The 1987 election of members to the Senate of the Philippines was the 23rd election to the Senate of the Philippines. It was held on Monday, May 11, 1987. The Philippine Senate was re-instituted following the approval of a new constitution in 1987 restoring the bicameral Congress of the Philippines; earlier, a constitution was approved in 1973 that created a unicameral Batasang Pambansa (parliament) that replaced the bicameral Congress. The last Senate election prior to this was the 1971 election.
The Lakas ng Bayan Coalition (LABAN) got 64.9% of the vote but won 22 out of 24 seats in the Senate; only two candidates from the opposition Grand Alliance for Democracy won: former Secretary of National Defense Juan Ponce Enrile and San Juan Mayor Joseph Estrada, despite getting 26.6% of the vote.
Along with the 1916, 1941 and the 1992 elections, this is the third senatorial election where all seats were up.

## Electoral system

The 1987 constitution reintroduced the bicameral Congress, restoring the Senate.Philippine Senate elections are held via plurality block voting with staggered elections, with the country as an at-large district. The Senate has 24 seats, of which all 24 seats were up for this election. Each voter has 24 votes, can vote up to 24 names, and the 24 candidates with the highest number of votes winning the seats. All winners shall serve until 1992.

## Background

After Marcos was ousted in the People Power Revolution in 1986, his political party, the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, was fragmented. Almost all its members including Assemblymen Arturo Tolentino, Jose Rono, Nicanor Yniquez, Cesar Virata who were coming from the Nacionalista Party among others were orphaned.
On the other hand, the Aquino coalition took all positions in the Ministry/Cabinet. Most notable were Prime Minister Salvador Laurel, Local Government Minister Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Executive Secretary Joker Arroyo.
The Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) consists of the PDP–Laban headed by Local Government Minister Pimentel, the Lakas ng Bansa party headed by Assemblyman Ramon Mitra, the UNIDO, the Liberal Party headed by Senator Jovito Salonga, the National Union of Christian Democrats headed by Raul Manglapus, the Bayang Nagkakaisa sa Diwa at Layunin headed by Butz Aquino, Panaghusia and other pro-Cory regional parties
The GAD consists of the faction of the KBL headed by Assemblyman Arturo Tolentino, the Jose Roy faction of the Nacionalista Party headed by Renato Cayetano, the pre-1986 opposition leaders who defected from Aquino headed by Senator Eva Estrada-Kalaw, the Partido Nacionalista ng Pilipinas headed by Former Labor Minister Blas Ople, the Mindanao Alliance, the Muslim Federal Party and the Christian Social Democratic Party.
The UPP-KBL coalition was composed of pro-Marcos forces. This coalition included some GAD candidates as guest candidates, and was considered to be the loyalist politicians of the Marcos government.
The Left also put up a seven-man slate, under the Partido ng Bayan banner. This includes the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan and its allied organizations.
Other political parties who fielded candidates are the Lapiang Manggagawa, Lakas ng Bansa and the Partido Nacionalista ng Pilipinas, along with several independent candidates.

## Candidates

There were major four coalitions for this election, of which two put up complete 24-person slate, while one had guest candidates to complete its slates, and one had a 7-member slate:
* Lakas ng Bayan (People Power), supporters of President Corazon Aquino
* Grand Alliance for Democracy, opposes Aquino
* Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (New Society Movement): supporters of former president Ferdinand Marcos
* Partido ng Bayan (Party of the Nation), by the leftist Bagong Alyansang Makabayan
Main coalitions :
| Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) | Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (UPP–KBL) | Partido ng Bayan (PnB) | Independents |
| Heherson Alvarez | Firdausi Ismail Abbas | Vicente Abangan | Crispin Beltran | Silvino Barsana Agudo |
| Edgardo Angara | Homobono Adaza | Salvador Britanico | Jose Burgos Jr. | Oswaldo Carbonell |
| Butz Aquino | Alejandro Almendras | Rommel Corro | Bernabe Buscayno | Elpidio Dizon |
| Arthur Defensor | Abul Khayr Alonto | Edilberto del Valle | Romeo Capulong | Rodolfo Fariñas |
| Neptali Gonzales | Rene Espina | Concordio Diel | Horacio Morales | Glicerio Gervero |
| Teofisto Guingona Jr. | Joseph Estrada | Joseph Estrada | Nelia Sancho | Ramon A. Gonzales |
| Ernesto Herrera | Eva Estrada-Kalaw | Wenceslao Lagumbay | Jaime Tadeo | Manuel Manahan |
| Sotero Laurel | Wilson Gamboa | Macabangkit Lanto | — | Carmelito Montano |
| Joey Lina | Romeo Jalosjos Sr. | Pacifico Lopez de Leon | — | Manuel Pages |
| Ernesto Maceda | Roilo Golez | Vicente Magsaysay | — | Elly Pamatong |
| Raul Manglapus | Wenceslao Lagumbay | Norma Precy Mathay | — | Franco Rimando |
| Orly Mercado | Vicente Magsaysay | Vicente Millora | — | Liberato Roldan |
| John Henry Osmeña | Jeremias Montemayor | Edith Nakpil-Rabat | — | Ramon Revilla Sr. |
| Vicente Paterno | Edith Nakpil-Rabat | Salvador Panelo | — | Julian Taasan |
| Nene Pimentel | Blas Ople | Leonardo Perez | — | Antonio Velasco |
| Santanina Rasul | Rafael Palmares | Geronimo Quadra | — | — |
| Alberto Romulo | Zosimo Paredes | Antonio Raquiza | — | — |
| Rene Saguisag | Juan Ponce Enrile | Rafael Recto | — | — |
| Augusto Sanchez | Vicente Puyat | Isidro Rodriguez Sr. | — | — |
| Jovito Salonga | Isidro Rodriguez | Nilo Tayag | — | — |
| Leticia Ramos-Shahani | Francisco Tatad | Lorenzo Teves | — | — |
| Mamintal Tamano | Lorenzo Teves | Arturo Tolentino | — | — |
| Wigberto Tañada | Arturo Tolentino | Joaquin Venus | — | — |
| Victor Ziga | Fernando Veloso | Nicanor Yñiguez | — | — |
Other tickets :
| Lapiang Manggagawa (LM) | Lakas ng Bayan (original; LABAN) | Partido Nacionalista ng Pilipinas (PNP) |
| Jacinto Tamayo | Juan T. David | Leopoldo Quesada |
| Bienvenido Medrano | — | — |
* 1 2 3 4 Defected from the Aquino administration
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Guest candidate

## Results

The Lakas ng Bayan (LABAN) coalition won 22 seats, while the Grand Alliance for Democracy (GAD) won two.
Winners who had served in the 1935 constitution Senate were LABAN's Raul Manglapus, Ernesto Maceda, John Henry Osmeña, Jovito Salonga and Mamintal A.J. Tamano.
Winners who had served in the Batasang Pambansa were LABAN's Neptali Gonzales, Orlando S. Mercado, Aquilino Pimentel Jr., Alberto Romulo, and Victor Ziga, and GAD's Juan Ponce Enrile.
Winners who had neither served in the 1935 constitution Senate and in the 1973 constitution Batasang Pambansa were LABAN's Heherson Alvarez, Edgardo Angara, Butz Aquino, Teofisto Guingona Jr., Ernesto Herrera, Sotero Laurel, Joey Lina, Leticia Ramos-Shahani, Nina Rasul, Rene Saguisag and Wigberto Tañada, and GAD's Joseph Estrada.
The first 21 proclaimed winners were all seated on June 30, the day the terms start. The 22nd and 23rd senators were proclaimed a few days after June 30. Finally, the Commission on Elections, due to the tight race between GAD's Juan Ponce Enrile and LABAN's Augusto Sanchez, only declared the 24th winner by August.
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Before election | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ | ‡^ |
| Election result | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | LABAN | GAD | GAD |
| After election | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
| Senate bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Majority bloc | Min bloc | |
Key:
* ‡ Seats up
* + Gained by a party from another party
* ^ Vacancy

### Per candidate

| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Jovito Salonga | Lakas ng Bayan | 12,988,360 | 57.12 |
| | Butz Aquino | Lakas ng Bayan | 12,426,432 | 54.65 |
| | Orly Mercado | Lakas ng Bayan | 11,901,673 | 52.34 |
| | John Henry Osmeña | Lakas ng Bayan | 11,299,102 | 49.69 |
| | Edgardo Angara | Lakas ng Bayan | 11,288,407 | 49.64 |
| | Alberto Romulo | Lakas ng Bayan | 11,119,193 | 48.90 |
| | Leticia Ramos-Shahani | Lakas ng Bayan | 11,089,340 | 48.77 |
| | Rene Saguisag | Lakas ng Bayan | 10,871,850 | 47.81 |
| | Neptali Gonzales | Lakas ng Bayan | 10,855,796 | 47.74 |
| | Joey Lina | Lakas ng Bayan | 10,679,150 | 46.96 |
| | Wigberto Tañada | Lakas ng Bayan | 10,420,831 | 45.83 |
| | Heherson Alvarez | Lakas ng Bayan | 10,288,113 | 45.24 |
| | Sotero Laurel | Lakas ng Bayan | 10,278,729 | 45.20 |
| | Joseph Estrada | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 10,029,978 | 44.11 |
| | Teofisto Guingona Jr. | Lakas ng Bayan | 9,957,591 | 43.79 |
| | Raul Manglapus | Lakas ng Bayan | 9,910,244 | 43.58 |
| | Vicente Paterno | Lakas ng Bayan | 9,647,680 | 42.43 |
| | Victor Ziga | Lakas ng Bayan | 9,489,132 | 41.73 |
| | Ernesto Maceda | Lakas ng Bayan | 9,381,682 | 41.26 |
| | Nene Pimentel | Lakas ng Bayan | 9,042,696 | 39.77 |
| | Ernesto Herrera | Lakas ng Bayan | 8,474,297 | 37.27 |
| | Mamintal A.J. Tamano | Lakas ng Bayan | 8,102,231 | 35.63 |
| | Santanina Rasul | Lakas ng Bayan | 7,966,882 | 35.03 |
| | Juan Ponce Enrile | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 7,964,966 | 35.03 |
| | Augusto Sanchez | Lakas ng Bayan | 7,891,932 | 34.71 |
| | Arthur Defensor Sr. | Lakas ng Bayan | 7,865,702 | 34.59 |
| | Eva Estrada-Kalaw | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 6,922,810 | 30.44 |
| | Vicente Puyat | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 6,859,307 | 30.16 |
| | Alejandro Almendras | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 6,317,107 | 27.78 |
| | Blas Ople | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 5,736,911 | 25.23 |
| | Arturo Tolentino | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 5,725,189 | 25.18 |
| | Vicente Magsaysay | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 5,500,447 | 24.19 |
| | Ramon Revilla Sr. | Independent | 5,203,982 | 22.88 |
| | Rene Espina | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 5,107,313 | 22.46 |
| | Francisco Tatad | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 4,743,678 | 20.86 |
| | Homobono Adaza | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 4,657,782 | 20.48 |
| | Roilo Golez | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 4,657,782 | 20.48 |
| | Rafael Recto | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 3,277,088 | 14.41 |
| | Romeo Jalosjos Sr. | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 3,131,226 | 13.77 |
| | Wilson Gamboa Sr. | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 2,450,523 | 10.78 |
| | Isidro Rodriguez | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 2,326,937 | 10.23 |
| | Wenceslao Lagumbay | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 2,168,086 | 9.53 |
| | Abul Khayr Alonto | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,998,261 | 8.79 |
| | Rafael Palmares | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,974,023 | 8.68 |
| | Lorenzo Teves | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,790,962 | 7.88 |
| | Zosimo Paredes | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,786,271 | 7.86 |
| | Rodolfo Fariñas | Independent | 1,668,147 | 7.34 |
| | Fernando R. Veloso | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,660,100 | 7.30 |
| | Merced Edith Nakpil-Rabat | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,655,065 | 7.28 |
| | Leonardo B. Perez | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 1,559,353 | 6.86 |
| | Jeremias U. Montemayor | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,522,413 | 6.69 |
| | Salvador Britanico | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 1,501,159 | 6.60 |
| | Nicanor Yñiguez | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 1,429,910 | 6.29 |
| | Firdausi Ismail Abbas | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 1,372,920 | 6.04 |
| | Horacio Morales | Alliance for New Politics | 1,327,920 | 5.84 |
| | Bernabe Buscayno | Alliance for New Politics | 1,307,527 | 5.75 |
| | Jose Burgos Jr. | Alliance for New Politics | 1,300,596 | 5.72 |
| | Nelia Sancho | Alliance for New Politics | 1,264,375 | 5.56 |
| | Vicente Millora | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 1,242,115 | 5.46 |
| | Crispin Beltran | Alliance for New Politics | 1,154,593 | 5.08 |
| | Jaime Tadeo | Alliance for New Politics | 1,093,995 | 4.81 |
| | Romeo Capulong | Alliance for New Politics | 1,063,818 | 4.68 |
| | Macabangkit Lanto | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 861,506 | 3.79 |
| | Pacifico Lopez de Leon | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 836,316 | 3.68 |
| | Antonio Raquiza | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 771,951 | 3.39 |
| | Norma Precy Mathay | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 743,573 | 3.27 |
| | Nilo Tayag | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 721,431 | 3.17 |
| | Concordio Diel | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 573,248 | 2.52 |
| | Manuel Manahan | Independent | 570,979 | 2.51 |
| | Joaquin Venus | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 554,644 | 2.44 |
| | Vicente Abangan | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 549,901 | 2.42 |
| | Edilberto A. del Valle | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 468,522 | 2.06 |
| | Rommel Corro | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 459,758 | 2.02 |
| | Geronimo Quadra | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 402,346 | 1.77 |
| | Salvador Panelo | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 393,413 | 1.73 |
| | Oswaldo Carbonell | Independent | 326,848 | 1.44 |
| | Antonio Velasco | Independent | 261,707 | 1.15 |
| | Jacinto Tamayo | Lapiang Manggagawa | 155,353 | 0.68 |
| | Juan T. David | Lakas ng Bayan (original) | 101,499 | 0.45 |
| | Carmelito Montano | Independent | 85,425 | 0.38 |
| | Elpidio Dizon | Independent | 79,080 | 0.35 |
| | Bienvenido Medrano | Lapiang Manggagawa | 59,653 | 0.26 |
| | Leopoldo Quesada | Partido Nacionalista ng Pilipinas | 55,519 | 0.24 |
| | Manuel Pages | Independent | 29,908 | 0.13 |
| | Franco Rimando | Independent | 26,650 | 0.12 |
| | Glicerio Gervero | Independent | 18,750 | 0.08 |
| | Silvino Barsana Agudo | Independent | 11,250 | 0.05 |
| | Julian Taasan | Independent | 7,501 | 0.03 |
| | Ramon A. Gonzales | Independent | 3,750 | 0.02 |
| | Elly Pamatong | Independent | 3,098 | 0.01 |
| | Liberato Roldan | Independent | 2,487 | 0.01 |
| Total | Total | Total | 374,827,746 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 22,739,995 | – |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 26,569,539 | 85.59 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Guest candidate of Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan

### Per coalition

Seats :
| | Lakas ng Bayan | 243,237,045 | 64.89 | 22 |
| | Grand Alliance for Democracy | 98,060,057 | 26.16 | 2 |
| | Union for Peace and Progress–Kilusang Bagong Lipunan | 16,346,234 | 4.36 | 0 |
| | Alliance for New Politics | 8,512,824 | 2.27 | 0 |
| | Lapiang Manggagawa | 215,006 | 0.06 | 0 |
| | Lakas ng Bayan (original) | 101,499 | 0.03 | 0 |
| | Partido Nacionalista ng Pilipinas | 55,519 | 0.01 | 0 |
| | Independent | 8,299,562 | 2.21 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 374,827,746 | 100.00 | 24 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 22,739,995 | – | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 26,569,539 | 85.59 | |
Vote share
LABAN
64.89%
GAD
26.16%
Others
9.95% :
Senate seats
LABAN
91.67%
GAD
8.33%
Others
0.00% :