Who to Vote For?

Get To Know the Political

Parties in the Philippines
These are the 9 major political parties in the country, and the senatorial candidates they
endorse.

There are about 169 political parties listed and accredited by the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) on its official website. These include all the major and minor parties, both on
the national and local scope, as well as party lists.

Due to constraints, we only listed down the nine major political parties recognized by the
Comelec for the 2016 national elections, and the candidates they endorse for the 2019
midterm elections. This includes two dominant parties and seven other major political
parties.

Liberal Party (LP)

The Liberal Party is the second oldest existing political party in the country following the
Nacionalista Party (No. 3 on this list). Its founder, former Senate President Manuel Roxas,
formed the party in 1945 right after the country’s liberation from the Japanese occupation.

Before the LP’s creation, Roxas was first responsible for establishing a liberal wing of the
Nacionalista Party, which is why the LP is also seen as a breakaway faction of the NP.
Historically, the party’s political position has tended to be in the center to center-left. It
promotes social liberalism.

The Comelec identified the LP as the dominant majority party for the 2016 elections.
Today, it currently holds five Senate seats and 46 seats in the House of Representatives. It
is chaired by Vice President Leni Robredo and has Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as its
president. It is also known as the opposition block today.

*2019 senatorial candidates: The ‘Otso Diretso’ - Gary Alejano, Bam Aquino, Chel Diokno,
Samira Gutoc, Mar Roxas, and Erin Tañada.
*Non-member candidates they endorse: Florin Hilbay, Romy Macalintal

United Nationalist Alliance (UNA)

UNA may be the youngest political party on this list, but it was recognized by the Comelec
as the dominant minority party for the 2016 elections.
Officially founded as a political party in 2015 by former Vice President Jejomar Binay, it
sprung from the United Opposition (UNO) coalition that was formed in 2005 for the 2007
midterm elections.

The party leans toward center-right and practices rather conservative politics. It holds two
seats in the Upper House and three in the Lower Chamber. It is currently chaired by
Binay’s daughter, Senator Nancy Binay.

*2019 senatorial candidates: Nancy Binay, Danilo Roleda

Nacionalista Party (NP)

The Nacionalista Party is the oldest existing political party in the country and in Southeast
Asia. It was founded in April 1907 by former presidents Manuel L. Quezon and Sergio
Osmeña and was formed to support the liberalization of the Philippines from the
American rule.

The NP is a largely right-wing political party with conservative ideologies, somewhat

similar to the US’ Republican Party. Today, the party holds four Senate seats and 29 seats
in the House of Representatives. It is currently chaired by former Senate President Manuel
“Manny” Villar.

*2019 senatorial candidates: Cynthia Villar, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos

Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC)

Like the Liberal Party, the NPC is also a breakaway faction that stemmed from another
party—this time, the Nacionalista Party.
Filipino businessman and then-presidential candidate Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. founded the
NPC in 1992. Since its first members came from the Nacionalista Party, the two parties
share a lot in common when it comes to ideologies and political leanings.

Like the NP, the NPC also promotes conservatism and positions itself at the center-right of
the political spectrum. It currently holds three seats in the Senate and 33 seats in the
House of Representatives.

*2019 senatorial candidates: Lito Lapid, JV Ejercito

Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban)

Fact: This party endorsed the presidential campaign of Rodrigo Duterte.

Another fact: It also nominated former President Corazon Aquino as its candidate for the
1986 snap elections.

PDP-Laban was established through a merger between the parties Partido Demokratiko
Pilipino and Lakas ng Bayan (founded by former Senator Benigno Aquino Jr.) in 1983, led
by former Senate President Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel. Its creation was to overthrow the
Marcos administration.

The party’s inherent ideologies lie in democratic socialism. These days, however, it is also
mixed with populism and federalism.

It is also currently the ruling political party in the country. The party holds three upper
house seats and 114 lower house seats. Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel serves as its
president.

*2019 senatorial candidates: Koko Pimentel, Bato Dela Rosa, Zajid Mangudadatu, Bong Go,
Francis Tolentino

Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL)

Largely a pro-Marcos party, the KBL was founded in 1978 and was reorganized again in
1986 after the Martial Law. It was formed by pro-Marcos supporters who came from the
Nacionalista and Liberal parties. As such, the party supports authoritarianism.

The party currently doesn’t have any representatives in both chambers of the Congress.

*2019 senatorial candidate: Larry Gadon

Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD)
The Lakas-CMD that we know now was founded in 2008. It is one of the only two parties
on this list that is influenced by religion (the other is NUP).

Its roots trace back to the merger of the original Lakas-CMD, which was founded in 1991,
and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (KAMPI). It is in the center-right of the political
spectrum and promotes conservatism, Christian democracy, and Islamic democracy as its
core ideologies.
They only hold four seats in the lower chamber today. Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. serves as
its chairman.

*2019 senatorial candidates: Willie Ong, Ramon Revilla Jr.

Aksyon Demokratiko

Much like the other parties mentioned in this list, Aksyon Demokratiko’s roots came from
an older party. In this case, it was the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

Aksyon Demokratiko was founded in 1997 by former senator Raul Roco. It identifies itself
as a progressive political party, forwarding progressivism and liberal democracy. It aligns
itself in the center-left of the political spectrum.

*2019 senatorial candidates: Florin Hilbay

**Non-member candidates they endorse: the rest of ‘Otso-Diretso’, Lito Lapid
National Unity Party (NUP)

Founded in 2011, the NUP is a breakaway party from the Lakas Kampi CMD. The party
advances social conservatism and Christian democracy as its core ideologies. Its politics
tend to lean towards the center to center-right.

The party does not hold any seat in the Senate, but it has 21 representatives in the lower
house. It is currently chaired by Ronaldo Puno.

*2019 senatorial candidates: None.