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).

1946 Philippine Senate election

April 23, 1946
16 (of the 24) seats in the Senate
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader José Avelino Carlos P. Garcia Vicente Sotto Party Nacionalista (Liberal wing) Nacionalista Popular Front Leader's seat Nationwide at-large Nationwide at-large Nationwide at-large Seats before 3 (3 up) 20 (13 up) 0 Seats won 8 7 1 Seats after 9 14 1 Seat change 6 6 1 Popular vote 8,626,965 7,454,074 1,199,138 Percentage 47.7% 41.2% 6.6%
Senate President before election Manuel Roxas Nacionalista (Liberal wing) Elected Senate President José Avelino Nacionalista (Liberal wing)

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 House 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.

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 Liberal Party won nine out of 16 contested senatorial seats; the first eight senators would serve until 1951, and the second eight until 1949:

Per candidate

 Summary of the April 23, 1946 Philippine Senate election result

Rank	Candidate	Party		Votes	%
1	Vicente Francisco		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	735,671	28.6%
2	Vicente Sotto		Popular Front	717,225	27.9%
3	José Avelino		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	708,420	27.6%
4	Melecio Arranz		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	666,700	25.9%
5	Ramon Torres		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	640,477	24.9%
6	Tomas Confesor		Nacionalista	627,354	24.4%
7	Mariano Jesus Cuenco		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	623,650	24.3%
8	Carlos P. Garcia		Nacionalista	617,542	24.0%
9	Olegario Clarin		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	611,227	23.8%
10	Alejo Mabanag		Nacionalista	608,902	23.7%
11	Enrique B. Magalona		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	591,796	23.0%
12	Tomas Cabili		Nacionalista	589,762	22.9%
13	Jose O. Vera		Nacionalista	588,993	22.9%
14	Ramon Diokno		Nacionalista	583,598	22.7%
15	Jose Romero^1		Nacionalista	563,816	21.9%
16	Salipada Pendatun		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	557,156	21.7%
17	Prospero Sanidad		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	556,772	21.7%
18	Vicente dela Cruz		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	544,621	21.2%
19	Servillano dela Cruz		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	536,995	20.9%
20	Pedro Magsalin		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	516,127	20.1%
21	Antonio Paguia		Laborite	505,770	19.7%
22	Santiago Fonacier		Nacionalista	499,565	19.4%
23	Antonio Araneta		Nacionalista	491,054	19.1%
24	Emilio Javier		Popular Front	481,913	18.8%
25	Eduardo Cojuangco		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	481,683	18.7%
26	Pedro S. Reyes		Nacionalista	465,987	18.1%
27	Jose Altavas		Nacionalista	461,014	17.9%
28	Rafael Martinez		Nacionalista	449,534	17.5%
29	Vicente Lava		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	431,842	16.8%
30	Mariano Garchitorena		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	423,828	16.5%
31	Pedro Insua		Nacionalista	403,561	15.7%
32	Pascual Azanza		Nacionalista	397,835	15.5%
33	Carlos Padilla		Modernist	75,066	2.9%
34	D. Gutierrez		Nacionalista	49,037	1.9%
35	Francisco Zandueta		Nacionalista (Independent)	47,802	1.9%
36	Ramon Lopez		Democratic Alliance	44,718	1.7%
37	Vicente Ocampo		Modernist	43,872	1.7%
38	Jose C. Soto		Modernist	35,408	1.4%
39	Asa-ad Usman		Nacionalista	28,924	1.1%
40	Timoteo Consing		Nacionalista	27,597	1.1%
41	Emilia T. del Rosario		Modernist	25,586	1.0%
42	Manuel Silos		Modernist	23,344	0.9%
43	Miguel Anzures		Modernist	20,441	0.8%
44	Jose Climaco		Modernist	20,231	0.8%
45	Ismael Golez		National Welfare Service	17,069	0.7%
46	Dominador Santiago		Modernist	16,553	0.6%
47	Casiano Rosales		Modernist	14,949	0.6%
48	Carlos V. Tolosa		Modernist	13,527	0.5%
49	Paul Verzosa		National Welfare Service	12,094	0.5%
50	Godofredo Calub		Modernist	11,498	0.4%
51	Jesus Infante		Modernist	10,487	0.4%
52	Melchor Lagasca		National Welfare Service	10,323	0.4%
53	Felix E. Rey		Modernist	9,787	0.4%
54	Rosendo Zaldarriaga		Democrat (Osmeña)	9,656	0.4%
55	Pasto Lavadia		Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	7,864	0.3%
56	Constancio P. Cecilio		Modernist	7,807	0.3%
57	Marcelino Josue		Modernist	4,604	0.2%
Total turnout				2,569,880	89.6%
Total votes				18,081,774	N/A
Registered voters				2,898,604	100.0%
				Source:[1]

^1 Replaced by Prospero Sanidad as a result of an election protest.

Per party

Party		Popular vote		Seats
		Total	%	Won	1941	End 1st	2nd		+/−
							Start	%
	Nacionalista (Liberal wing)	8,626,965	47.7%	8	0	3	9	37.5%	6
	Nacionalista	7,454,074	41.2%	7	24	20	14	62.5%	6
	Popular Front	1,199,138	6.6%	1	0	0	1	4.2%	1
	Laborite	505,770	2.8%	0	0	0	0	0.0%
	Modernist	203,276	1.1%	0	0	0	0	0.0%
	Independent	47,802	0.3%	0	0	0	0	0.0%
	Democratic Alliance	44,718	0.2%	0	0	0	0	0.0%
Totals		18,081,774	100.00%	16	24	23	24	100.0%	1

See also

• Commission on Elections
• 1st Congress of the Philippines

References

1. Christof Hartmann; Graham Hassall; Soliman M. Santos, Jr. (2001). Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz and Christof Hartmann (ed.). Elections in Asia and the Pacific Vol. II. Oxford University Press. pp. 185–230. ISBN 0199249598.

External links

• The Philippine Presidency Project
• Official website of the Commission on Elections