The 2001 election of members to the Senate of the Philippines was the 27th election to the Senate of the Philippines. It was held on Monday, May 14, 2001, to elect 12 of the 24 seats and one mid-term vacancy in the Senate. Independent candidate Noli de Castro, a journalist and former television anchor, was announced as the topnotcher. This became the first synchronized national and local elections held after the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada in January due to a military-backed civilian uprising, popularly known as EDSA II. The PPC won eight seats, the Puwersa ng Masa won four, and Noli de Castro as an independent won one; PPC's Ralph Recto edged out Puwersa ng Masa's Gregorio Honasan for the twelfth place and Honasan was elected to serve the remainder of Guingona's term. On February 20, 2007, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that Honasan did lose the election but declared the special election constitutional for the remaining three-year term of Teofisto Guingona Jr.

Electoral system

Philippine Senate elections are via pluraity block voting, with the entire country as an at-large "district". Each voter has 12 votes, and can vote for up to 12 candidates. Seats up were the seats last contested in 1995. With the appointment of Teofisto Guingona Jr. as vice president in 2001, the COMELEC ruled that the thirteenth placed candidate shall serve for Guingona's unexpired term.

Candidates

The two competing coalitions in this election were the anti-Estrada People Power Coalition (PPC) and the pro-Estrada Puwersa ng Masa coalition. The PPC was composed of Lakas—National Union of Christian Democrats—United Muslim Democrats of the Philippines, Partido para sa Demokratikong Reporma—Lapiang Manggagawa, Aksyon Demokratiko, Probinsya Muna Development Initiative, Liberal Party and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino—Lakas ng Bayan. The Puwersa ng Masa included Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Partido ng Masang Pilipino along with pro-Estrada independent candidates. The Kilusang Bagong Lipunan put up a 4-candidate slate, while three parties had one candidate each. There were also 4 independents not associated with the PPC, Puwersa ng Masa, or other parties. With the mid-term vacancy due to Guingona's appointment, both slates now had 13 candidates instead of the usual 12.

Administration coalition

Opposition coalition

Others

Note: Party affiliation based on Certificate of Candidacy.

Retiring and term limited incumbents

Mid-term vacancies

Results

The People Power Coalition (PPC) won eight seats, the Puwersa ng Masa won four, and an independent candidate won one. Of the four seats Puwersa ng Masa won, one was for the seat of Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., whose senatorial term would have ended on June 30, 2004. Four incumbent senators won: Franklin Drilon, Juan Flavier, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Serge Osmeña of PPC. Puwersa ng Masa's Gregorio Honasan finished 13th and served the Guingona's unexpired term. There are seven neophyte senators: PPC's Joker Arroyo, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Manny Villar, Puwersa ng Masa's Loi Ejercito and Panfilo Lacson, independent candidate Noli de Castro. Returning is Edgardo Angara, who was term limited in the previous election. Puwersa ng Masa senators Miriam Defensor Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile did not successfully defend their seats. Key:

Per candidate

Per coalition

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Per party

Defeated incumbents