Campaign posters for the May 9 local and national elections adorn a fenced property in Quezon City on April 4, 2022. With a little over a month before the elections, candidates from all parties are wooing voters in traditional and non-traditional ways. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — On May 12, Filipinos are set to choose who will fill some 18,000 government positions from a massive pool of candidates running in the midterm elections. 

Under the Constitution, the Philippines has a multi-party system, with candidates, in theory, united by their party's ideology and principles. In practice, however, parties are often alliances of politicians “with similarities” who work together on the basis of power and popularity, according to political analyst and professor Edna Co. 

Legal Network for Truthful Elections Executive Director Ona Caritos, in an interview with ANC, said Filipinos should scrutinize candidates’ platforms over personalities and vague promises.    

LENTE: Voters should reject vague promises, demand concrete plans from candidates | ANC  

But what are the principles, platform policies, and ideologies that parties say bind their members?

ABS-CBN News has compiled the declared platforms of some of the biggest political parties vying for national government positions in the coming elections.  

ALYANSA PARA SA BAGONG PILIPINAS

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate, an 11-member slate from four political parties that teamed up to “transform the nation through unity,” is meant to be a continuation of the UniTeam coalition of the largest parties and political clans formed for the 2022 elections and that dominated the polls then.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  and 10 senatorial candidates of the administration's Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign in Trece Martires, Cavite, on March 21, 2025. Bongbong Marcos/Facebook Fielded from Marcos Jr.'s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas are former Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, and reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino.

PFP, an obscure party before Marcos joined, says on its website that it seeks to eradicate insurgency and crime through a nationwide coordination with the police and military.  

PFP, which was originally organized as a support party for then President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018, vows to alleviate the rampant use of illegal drugs through “holistic law enforcement” and rehabilitation.   

All major parties will be in administration alliance – Romualdez 

The party says a “balanced regard for worker’s autonomy and economic productivity” will ensure that economic success will benefit the lowest level of production—the workers.  

PFP promises a “consolidated front” and “no-nonsense policies,” but its manifesto does not mention specific plans for that.

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats’ (Lakas-CMD) Bong Revilla and Erwin Tulfo are also part of the Marcos-backed senatorial slate.

At the core of the dominant majority party is the aspiration for a strong republic and the development of the political, economic, and socio-cultural systems of Philippine society, its constitution reads. 

Marcos' Partido Federal, Romualdez’s Lakas-CMD ink alliance ahead of 2025 elections 

The constitution lists its principles, which include good governance, global engagement, people empowerment, sustainable development, social justice, subsidiary and solidarity.Ramon Bong Revilla Jr./Facebook

The Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas also includes Makati City Mayor Abby Binay, Sen. Lito Lapid and former Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, who are from the Nationalist People's Coalition.

According to an  archived copy of its manifesto, NPC "is committed to maintain a constitutional, republican, democratic and secular form of government."

It also "believes that the main engine in poverty alleviation is economic development" and that government's role is "to create the necessary environment" to allow industry to develop and expand, and to attract foreign investments. 

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay speaks to the audience during the Brigada Eskwela Kickoff inside the Comembo Elementary School on August 10, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

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The Nacionalista Party, the oldest in the country and the former party of President Marcos Jr., is represented in the Alyansa slate by Sen. Pia Cayetano and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar. 

Vice President Sara Duterte has endorsed Villar and reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos — a member of the NP who has withdrawn from the Alyansa slate — for sharing her vision of a "peaceful and prosperous" Philippines.

Duterte said "this vision is solid enough to break through the walls of the existing political division in the country."

Running as an independent, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson is also part of the administration slate. 

Lacson said during his interview with ANC’s Harapan 2025 that his platform centers on anti-corruption and good governance.

The former police general called the 2025 national budget “unconstitutional” for not allocating the biggest chunk of the spending plan to education.

He also criticized the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) that bagged P26 billion of the national budget for being “pork barrel” in a different name.

Lacson said in the interview that fewer stop-gap methods, and more reforms in budget should be implemented. 

HARAPAN 2025: Ping Lacson with Karen Davila | January 21 

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Nacionalista Party (NP) Chairman Manny Villar lead an alliance signing ceremony between the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and NP in Taguig City on August 8, 2024. PPA Pool

PDP-LABAN

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) is fielding six candidates for the upper chamber: Sens. Bato Dela Rosa and Bong Go; singer, former gambling executive, and lawyer Jimmy Bondoc; lawyers Jayvee Hinlo and Raul Lambino; and actor Philip Salvador.

PDP Laban candidates woo voters in proclamation rally 

The party, chaired by the former President Rodrigo Duterte — detained at the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands for the alleged crime against humanity of murder — vows to “advance peace and order” by continuing the war on drugs and maintaining the country’s independence from the ICC, according to its 10-point agenda.

PDP-Laban said it would fight corruption and eradicate poverty by ensuring government support to farmers, to fisherfolk, to children with special needs, and to homeless families.

It also vows to create a Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to strengthen the fishing industry.  

The PDP Laban program includes "local peace agreements with rebel units" and "pursuing independent foreign policy that upholds the national interest that will secure and strengthen alliances with other nations to secure the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea dispute."

Party chairman Duterte had played down the arbitral ruling and pivoted to China, chilling relations with traditional partners like the United States and the European Union.

PDP-Laban is also backing Sagip Party-List Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is in detention at the Pasig City Jail for a human trafficking case.

Marcoleta is also identified with the People's Reform Party of the late Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago and asylum seeker Harry Roque, a former Duterte spokesperson. PRP has been described as a center-left reformist party.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte campaigns for PDP Laban slate at Hugpong Youth Summit in Davao City on Feb. 28, 2025. Hernel Tocmo

LIBERAL PARTY

The LP is running for one seat at the Senate with the candidacy of its chairman Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, a former senator.  

The party is focused on attaining job security for the public, as well as accessible health and education,  according to its values charter.  

LP says it aspires to attain job security, freedom from poverty, freedom of self-expression, justice and fair governance, quality public health and education, and a prosperous economy.

The sole senatorial candidate is outspoken in his advocacy of agrarian reform, improvement of the country’s agricultural industry and support for farmers’ rights. 

During ANC’s Harapan 2025, Pangilinan said that effective law enforcement will lower rice prices, which lead to lower prices of other commodities.

He said smugglers and traders who hoard rice should be penalized, while business owners who do not follow the maximum suggested retail price—currently at P45 per kilo—should be given a warning and have their business permits revoked for repeated violations.  

Some rice retailers found violating maximum SRP 

Pangilinan recognizes the need for good governance, which would involve local governments, to monitor the education sector.

He said local governments can help ensure money is used for needed projects such as teachers’ training and capacity building, digitization and infrastructure building.  

Aquino, Pangilinan remain optimistic in senatorial bid 

Supporters flock to the launching of the  grassroots campaign "Mga Kaibigan" led by senatorial and congressional aspirants, former senators Kiko Pangilinan, Bam Aquino, Atty. Leila Dr Lima, and Atty. Chel Diokno, in Quezon City on October 16, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

KATIPUNAN NG NAGKAKAISANG PILIPINO

Former LP member Benigno Paolo "Bam" Aquino IV left the party in 2024 to serve as chairman of the young Katipunan ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KANP), which, he said 

would offer an alternative for "Filipinos weary of traditional politics and politicians."

The party has not stated its platform, but Aquino himself has made clear from his tagline—‘Libreng Kolehiyo, Siguradong Trabaho’—that he seeks to generate job opportunities to curve the country’s unemployment rate.  

During Aquino’s Harapan 2025 interview with Karen Davila, he said that lowering commodity prices tops his priority list.

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For him, eliminating corruption in the business system manifested in cartels, abuses in local ports and bribing system will lower prices by 10 to 15%.  

If elected, Aquino said he would also prioritize budget allocation for the coming years and return the budget lost by the education sector—especially for the education department’s computerization—and the health sector.

He added he would seek to remove the “pork barrel” allocations in the infrastructure sector, which this year received more than P1.5 billion. 

Harapan 2025: Bam Aquino seeks law banning political dynasties

Former Senator Bam Aquino during the launch of the grassroots campaign "Mga Kaibigan," on October 16, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File  MAKABAYAN COALITION

The Makabayan Coalition is a 10-member slate of candidates from people's organizations. 

It includes:

Jocelyn Andamo of Filipino Nurses United

Mody Floranda of transport group PISTON

Mimi Doringo of urban poor group Kadamay

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro

Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas

Jerome Adonis of labor center Kilusang Mayo Uno

Ronnel Arambulo of fisherfolk alliance Pamalakaya 

Danilo Ramos of farmers' group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas

Former Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Liza Maza

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño

Almirah Lidasan of Moro and Indigenous Peoples' organization Sandugo

Makabayan Coalition unveils 2025 Senate slate 

According to its website, Makabayan plans to lower food prices by increasing subsidies to farmers. They also want genuine land reform and a moratorium on land conversion — the practice of reclassifying farm land to industrial or residential use.

Makabayan also calls for national industrialization and sufficient support for local industries. 

Makabayan candidates have also been campaigning for a P1,200 minimum wage, P33,000 basic government salary and P50,000 monthly wage for nurses and teachers.  

Makabayan calls for junking labor contractualization and the scrapping of value-added tax for oil, electricity, water and medications.

Marcos cuts taxes for energy players engaged in build-operate-transfer deals with gov't 

Makabayan is also campaigning to end “unequal” treaties such as the Mutual Defense Treaty, the Visiting Forces Agreement,a nd the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement — all with the US — as well as for working toward a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.  

The coalition pushes various actions for the collective access to quality education and health service, accessible rights for women and the LGBTQIA+ community, and the enactment of law to prohibit political dynasties.  

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The Makabayan bloc announces its senatorial slate for the 2025 midterm elections at Liwasang Bonifacio during the observance of National Heroes Day on August 26, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

 PARTIDO LAKAS NG MASA

The labor party Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) is fielding presidential candidate Leody de Guzman and labor lawyer Luke Espiritu in the senatorial race.  

Labor leaders Leody de Guzman, Luke Espiritu formalize 2025 Senate bid 

PLM identifies as democratic socialist and has been critical of traditional politicians and of political dynasties. According to its platform of government, it seeks to build up political power for the poor and marginalized, replace elite rule and work for change in society.

It sees that change happening in three stages, with an eventual shift to a socialist government.

"Sa unang bahagi, ang plataporma ay isusulong para magkaroon ng ginhawang pang-ekonomiya at espasyong pampulitika ang masa kahit sa kasalukuyang sistema na pinaghaharian ng mga trapo at elitistang pwersa," it also says.

(In the first phase, we will push the platform for economic relief and political space for the masses even under the current system that is ruled by traditional politicians and elite forces)

The two candidates are also outspoken of their individual stances. Both labor leaders, de Guzman and Espiritu had called for better access to public utilities and housing.

De Guzman, as posted by the PLM Facebook page, wants VAT and Excise Tax suspended and the Oil Deregulation Law — which leaves oil prices to market forces —  and the provincial salary rate junked.

He calls for effective price control and the enactment of a national living wage. 

Senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman speaks during a proclamation rally in Quezon City, February 16, 2025. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

WORKERS' AND PEASANTS' PARTY

Workers’ and Peasants’ Party attempts to snatch two seats in the Senate with the candidacy of lawyer and labor leader Sonny Matula and Muslim leader Subair Mustapha.

The leftist party has not published its platform online, but Matula wrote in a Facebook post that the party stands firm that “real change will not come from the rich and powerful, but from the brave and the just.”

Matula, who is also president of labor center Federation of Free Workers, says the party identifies as pro-worker and pro-farmer, and “carries people’s struggles on their shoulders.”

Matula alone vows to organize workers into the unions they belong to.

In a Facebook post, he mentioned that he aims to organize 75 new workers’ unions in line with the 75th anniversary of FFW.

Mustapha, meanwhile, seeks a standardized national wage, full coverage of workers’ hospital bills, comprehensive workers’ insurance, and scholarship programs for workers’ children.

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