Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan raise their hands with former Vice President Leni Robredo in a show of unity during a campaign rally—an image that symbolized their shared call for reform-driven leadership and citizen empowerment in the 2025 elections. -Photo from Kiko Pangilinan campaign
MANILA, Philippines — Former senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan have successfully reclaimed seats in the Philippine Senate, marking significant political comebacks in the 2025 midterm elections.
As of May 14, with 97.36% of precincts reporting, Aquino ranks second with over 20.6 million votes, while Pangilinan holds the fifth spot with more than 15 million votes.
Their victories are particularly notable, as pre-election surveys had placed both candidates outside the projected “Magic 12.” Analysts credit their strong performance to effective grassroots campaigns and significant support from the youth demographic, which constitutes a large portion of the electorate.
Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, who previously served in the Senate from 2013 to 2019, is best known for authoring the Go Negosyo Act and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free tuition in state universities and colleges.
In 2025, Aquino ran under the Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), a party he now chairs after leaving the Liberal Party in 2024. A Harvard-educated social entrepreneur and nephew of the late President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, Bam lost his reelection bid in 2019, making this a remarkable return to national office.
Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, a lawyer and veteran legislator, has long championed rural development, judicial reform, and food security. He served in the Senate from 2001 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2022, and once held the post of Senate Majority Leader.
He also served as Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization and ran for vice president in 2022. Pangilinan returned to the Senate under the Liberal Party banner, campaigning on platforms centered on supporting farmers and building sustainable food systems.
Both Aquino and Pangilinan’s campaigns resonated with younger voters, whose turnout proved critical in their electoral success. Their platforms focused on education, employment, and sustainability—issues closely aligned with the priorities of the youth.
Significantly, both candidates ran as independents this cycle, untethered from dominant political coalitions or dynastic slates. Their strong performance reflects a possible shift in voter sentiment, with increasing preference for issue-based leadership over personality-driven politics.
Observers highlight the consistency of their advocacy and policy-driven approach as key to building broad support—particularly in an election cycle marked by fragmentation in both administration and opposition camps.
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is expected to officially proclaim the winners of the senatorial race by Friday, May 16. The return of Aquino and Pangilinan is seen as a revitalization of progressive voices in the Senate and could influence the legislative direction of the incoming Congress.
