# 1946 Philippine Senate election

Elections for the members of the Senate were held on April 23, 1946, in the Philippines (pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 725).

## Electoral system

Philippine Senate elections are held via plurality block voting with staggered elections, with the country as an at-large district. There are 24 seats in the Senate, with eight seats up every election for every two years starting from the first election in 1941; of the results in that election, the first eight would have served for six years, the next eight for four years, and the last eight for two years. Due to the intervention of World War II and the destruction of records, this election was the next election since 1941, and that lots were drawn on the 16 seats that would have been up in this election.
On this election, each voter has sixteen votes, of which one can vote up to sixteen names. Sixteen candidates shall then be elected, of which the first eight candidates with the most votes serving until 1951, then the next eight serving until 1949.

## Background

Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth Government in 1945 Senators Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and their allies called for an early national election to choose the president and vice president of the Philippines and members of the Congress. In December 1945, the United States House Committee on Insular Affairs of the United States Congress approved the joint resolution setting the election date at not later than April 30, 1946.
Prompted by this congressional action, President Sergio Osmeña called the Philippine Congress to a three-day special session. Congress enacted Commonwealth Act No. 725, setting the election on April 23, 1946, and was approved by President Osmeña on January 5, 1946.

## Retiring incumbents

The following are retiring in this election:
* Antonio de las Alas (Nacionalista)
* Nicolas Buendia (Nacionalista)
* Ramon J. Fernandez (Nacionalista)
* Domingo Imperial (Nacionalista)
* Quintin Paredes (Nacionalista–Liberal wing)
** Ran for representative from Abra and won
* Elpidio Quirino (Nacionalista–Liberal wing)
** Ran for vice president of the Philippines and won
* Manuel Roxas (Nacionalista–Liberal wing)
** Ran for president of the Philippines and won
* José Yulo (Nacionalista)

### Mid-term vacancies

* Daniel Maramba (Nacionalista), died on December 28, 1941
* Jose Ozamiz (Nacionalista), executed on February 11, 1944

### Senators running elsewhere

* Eulogio Rodriguez (Nacionalista) ran for vice president of the Philippines and lost

## Candidates

Total seats up: 16 :
| Party | Party | Total |
| | Nacionalista | 16 |
| | Liberal | 16 |
| | Modernist Party | 15 |
| | National Welfare Service Party | 3 |
| | Popular Front | 2 |
| | Democratic (Osmeña) | 1 |
| | Democratic Alliance | 1 |
| | Laborite Party | 1 |
| | Nacionalista (ind.) | 1 |
| Total | Total | 56 |
Major parties :
| Nacionalista Party (NP) | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) (NP L) | Modernist Party |
| Jose Altavas | Melecio Arranz | Miguel Anzures |
| Antonio Araneta | José Avelino | Godofredo Calub |
| Pascual Azanza | Olegario Clarin | Constancio P. Cecilio |
| Tomas Cabili | Eduardo Cojuangco Sr. | Jose Climaco |
| Tomás Confesor | Mariano Jesús Cuenco | Emilia T. Del Rosario |
| Timoteo Consing | Servillano dela Cruz | Jesus Infante |
| Ramón Diokno | Vicente dela Cruz | Marcelino Josue |
| Carlos P. Garcia | Vicente Francisco | Vicente Ocampo |
| Dionesio Gutierrez | Mariano Garchitorena | Carlos Padilla Sr. |
| Pedro Insua | Vicente Lava | Felix E. Rey |
| Alejo Mabanag | Pasto Lavadia | Casiano Rosales |
| Rafael Martinez | Enrique Magalona | Dominador Santiago |
| Pedro S. Reyes | Pedro Magsalin | Manuel Silos |
| José E. Romero | Salipada Pendatun | Jose C. Soto |
| Asa-ad Usman | Prospero Sanidad | Carlos V. Tolosa |
| José O. Vera | Ramon Torres | — |
Minor parties :
| Democratic (Osmeña) | Democratic Alliance (DA) | Laborite Party | Nacionalista Party (independent) | National Welfare Service Party | Popular Front (PF) |
| Rosendo Zaldarriaga | Ramon Lopez | Antonio Paguia | Francisco Zandueta | Ismael Golez | Emilio M. Javier |
| — | — | — | — | Melchor Lagasca | Vicente Sotto |
| — | — | — | — | Paul Versoza | — |

## Results

The election was generally peaceful and orderly except in some places where passions ran high, especially in the province of Pampanga. According to the controversial decision of the Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives on Meliton Soliman vs. Luis Taruc, Pampanga "was under the terroristic clutches and control of the Hukbalahaps. So terrorized were the people of Arayat, at one time, 200 persons abandoned their homes, their work, and their food, all their belongings in a mass evacuation to the poblacion due to fear and terror."
The dominant Nacionalista Party was divided into two wings in this election. The Liberal wing was led by Senate President Manuel Roxas, while the original Nacionalista Party was headed by President Sergio Osmeña. Roxas defeated Osmeña in the concurrent presidential election, while Roxas's running mate Senator Elpidio Quirino defeated Osmeña's running mate Senator Eulogio Rodriguez.
In the Senate elections, the Liberal wing won nine seats, the original Nacionalista Party won six seats, and the Popular Front won one.
These senators from Liberal wing defended their seats: Melecio Arranz, Mariano Jesus Cuenco, and Ramon Torres. Carlos P. Garcia was the sole senator from the original Nacionalista Party to defend his seat.
Newcomer senators include the Liberal wing's topnotcher Vicente Francisco, Jose Avelino, Olegario Clarin, Enrique Magalona, and Salipada Pendatun. Neophytes from the original Nacionalista Party are Tomas Confesor, Alejo Mabanag, Tomas Cabili, and Ramon Diokno. Newcomer Vicente Sotto was the sole candidate of the Popular Front elected.
José E. Romero of the Nacionalista was also a neophyte senator, but was unseated by the Prospero Sanidad of the Liberals, also a neophyte.
José O. Vera of the original Nacionalista Party, who last served in the Senate when it was abolished in 1935, is the sole senator to make a comeback.
The Liberal Party won nine out of 16 contested senatorial seats; the first eight senators would serve until 1951, and the second eight until 1949:
| | 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 | Not up | LP | LP | LP | LP | LP | LP | LP | LP | LP | PF | NP | NP | NP | NP | NP | NP | Not up | Not up | Not up | Not up | Not up | Not up | Not up |
| After election | | √ | √ | * | * | * | * | + | + | + | + | * | * | * | * | √ | √ | | | | | | | |
Key:
* ‡ Seats up
* ^ Vacancy
* + Gained by a party from another party
* √ Held by the incumbent
* * Held by the same party with a new senator
| Candidate | Candidate | Party | Votes | % |
| | Vicente Francisco | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 735,671 | 28.63 |
| | Vicente Sotto | Popular Front | 717,225 | 27.91 |
| | José Avelino | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 708,420 | 27.57 |
| | Melecio Arranz | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 666,700 | 25.94 |
| | Ramon Torres | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 640,477 | 24.92 |
| | Tomás Confesor | Nacionalista Party | 627,354 | 24.41 |
| | Mariano Jesús Cuenco | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 623,650 | 24.27 |
| | Carlos P. Garcia | Nacionalista Party | 617,542 | 24.03 |
| | Olegario Clarin | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 611,227 | 23.78 |
| | Alejo Mabanag | Nacionalista Party | 608,902 | 23.69 |
| | Enrique Magalona | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 591,796 | 23.03 |
| | Tomas Cabili | Nacionalista Party | 589,762 | 22.95 |
| | José O. Vera | Nacionalista Party | 588,993 | 22.92 |
| | Ramón Diokno | Nacionalista Party | 584,598 | 22.75 |
| | José E. Romero | Nacionalista Party | 563,816 | 21.94 |
| | Salipada Pendatun | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 557,156 | 21.68 |
| | Prospero Sanidad | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 556,772 | 21.67 |
| | Vicente dela Cruz | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 544,621 | 21.19 |
| | Servillano dela Cruz | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 536,995 | 20.90 |
| | Pedro Magsalin | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 516,127 | 20.08 |
| | Antonio Paguia | Laborite Party | 505,770 | 19.68 |
| | Santiago Fonacier | Nacionalista Party | 499,565 | 19.44 |
| | Antonio Araneta | Nacionalista Party | 491,054 | 19.11 |
| | Emilio M. Javier | Popular Front | 481,913 | 18.75 |
| | Eduardo Cojuangco Sr. | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 481,683 | 18.74 |
| | Pedro S. Reyes | Nacionalista Party | 465,987 | 18.13 |
| | Jose Altavas | Nacionalista Party | 461,014 | 17.94 |
| | Rafael Martinez | Nacionalista Party | 449,534 | 17.49 |
| | Vicente Lava | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 431,842 | 16.80 |
| | Mariano Garchitorena | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 423,828 | 16.49 |
| | Pedro Insua | Nacionalista Party | 403,561 | 15.70 |
| | Pascual Azanza | Nacionalista Party | 397,835 | 15.48 |
| | Carlos Padilla Sr. | Modernist Party | 75,066 | 2.92 |
| | Dionesio Gutierrez | Nacionalista Party | 49,037 | 1.91 |
| | Francisco Zandueta | Nacionalista Party (independent) | 47,802 | 1.86 |
| | Ramon Lopez | Democratic Alliance | 44,718 | 1.74 |
| | Vicente Ocampo | Modernist Party | 43,872 | 1.71 |
| | Jose C. Soto | Modernist Party | 35,408 | 1.38 |
| | Asa-ad Usman | Nacionalista Party | 28,924 | 1.13 |
| | Timoteo Consing | Nacionalista Party | 27,597 | 1.07 |
| | Emilia T. del Rosario | Modernist Party | 25,586 | 1.00 |
| | Manuel Silos | Modernist Party | 23,344 | 0.91 |
| | Miguel Anzures | Modernist Party | 20,441 | 0.80 |
| | Jose Climaco | Modernist Party | 20,231 | 0.79 |
| | Ismael Golez | National Welfare Service Party | 17,069 | 0.66 |
| | Dominador Santiago | Modernist Party | 16,553 | 0.64 |
| | Casiano Rosales | Modernist Party | 14,949 | 0.58 |
| | Carlos V. Tolosa | Modernist Party | 13,527 | 0.53 |
| | Paul Versoza | National Welfare Service Party | 12,094 | 0.47 |
| | Godofredo Calub | Modernist Party | 11,498 | 0.45 |
| | Jesus Infante | Modernist Party | 10,487 | 0.41 |
| | Melchor Lagasca | National Welfare Service Party | 10,323 | 0.40 |
| | Felix E. Rey | Modernist Party | 9,787 | 0.38 |
| | Rosendo Zaldarriaga | Democratic (Osmeña) | 9,656 | 0.38 |
| | Pasto Lavadia | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 7,864 | 0.31 |
| | Constancio P. Cecilio | Modernist Party | 7,807 | 0.30 |
| | Marcelino Josue | Modernist Party | 4,604 | 0.18 |
| Total | Total | Total | 18,269,634 | 100.00 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,569,880 | – |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,898,604 | 88.66 |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 The Nacionalista Party was split into two wings: those who supported Sergio Osmeña in the presidential election or the "conservative wing", and those who supported Manuel Roxas or the "liberal wing". The liberal wing eventually split off after the election and became the Liberal Party.
* 1 2 José E. Romero was later removed from office in favor of Prospero Sanidad who won an election protest.

### Per party

The Nacionalistas originally won 7 seats. but an election protest unseated a Nacionalista senator in favor of a Liberal one in 1946.
Seats :
| Party | Party | Votes | % | Up | Before | Won | After | +/− |
| | Nacionalista Party (Liberal wing) | 8,634,829 | 47.26 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 10 | +3 |
| | Nacionalista Party | 7,455,075 | 40.81 | 8 | 15 | 6 | 13 | −2 |
| | Popular Front | 1,199,138 | 6.56 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | New |
| | Laborite Party | 505,770 | 2.77 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Modernist Party | 333,160 | 1.82 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Nacionalista Party (independent) | 47,802 | 0.26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic Alliance | 44,718 | 0.24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | National Welfare Service Party | 39,486 | 0.22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic (Osmeña) | 9,656 | 0.05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vacancy | Vacancy | | | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | −2 |
| Total | Total | 18,269,634 | 100.00 | 16 | 24 | 16 | 24 | 0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | 2,569,880 | – | | | | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 2,898,604 | 88.66 | | | | | |
| Source: Dieter Nohlen; Florian Grotz; Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos (15 November 2001). Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook: Volume II: South East Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific. ISBN 9780199249596. & Julio Teehankee. "Electoral Politics in the Philippines" (PDF). quezon.ph. |||||||||
Vote share
LP
47.26%
NP
40.81%
PF
6.56%
Others
5.37% :
Senate seats
LP
56.25%
NP
37.50%
PF
6.25%
Others
0.00% :

## Defeated incumbents

* Rafael Martinez (Nacionalista)