Palace: Marcos still has people’s trust after 2025 elections

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — Photo from Presidential Communications Office/Facebook

MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration still has the Filipinos’ trust, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a briefing after the 2025 elections.

The assertion came after reelectionist Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said his votes were “protest votes” over the arrest of his long-time ally, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The president still believes that the administration still has much of the people’s trust,” Castro said in Filipino on Wednesday.

She cited an Octa survey showing that Marcos received a 61.8 percent satisfaction rating from 1,500 respondents on May 8 and 9.

READ: Palace: 3 surveys show better Marcos ratings

“The people made their judgment, the people made their votes. Let’s respect what our fellow countrymen chose. This does not reflect anything being said in relation to the Dutertes,” Castro said in Filipino.

READ: Dela Rosa says his votes are ‘protest’ for Duterte’s ICC arrest

‘Satisfied’

As for Marcos’ thoughts on the 2025 elections, Castro said the president is satisfied because “we found out that some of those voted in have their dignity, have their beliefs, and that a majority of them are for the nation and not for another country.”

As of 11:29 a.m. on Wednesday, partial and unofficial results showed that half of the “Magic 12” in the senatorial race were from the administration-backed Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas:

• 4th place – ACT-CIS Party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo
• 7th place – Former Sen. Ping Lacson
• 8th place – Former Senate President Tito Sotto
• 9th place – Reelectionist Sen. Pia Cayetano
• 10th place – Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar
• 11th place – Reelectionist Sen. Lito Lapid

Four Duterte-backed candidates were also in the winning circle so far:

• 1st place – Reelectionist Sen. Bong Go
• 3rd place – Reelectionist Sen. Bato dela Rosa
• 6th place – SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta
• 12th place – Reelectionist Sen. Imee Marcos

Villar was also endorsed by Vice President Sara Duterte and adopted into the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino slate as a guest candidate on the campaign’s final night.

Meanwhile, former Sens. Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan placed second and fifth, respectively.