2016 Philippine presidential election#Electoral protest

{{main|Philippine presidential election}}

According to the Constitution of the Philippines, the election is held every six years after 1992, on the second Monday of May. The incumbent president is term limited. The incumbent vice president may run for two consecutive terms. The plurality voting system is used to determine the winner: the candidate with the highest number of votes, whether or not one has a majority, wins the presidency. The vice presidential election is a separate election, is held on the same rules, and voters may split their ticket. Both winners will serve six-year terms commencing on the noon of June 30, 2016, and ending on the same day six years later.{{cite book|title=Elections in Asia and the Pacific: A Data Handbook, Volume II|last2=Hassall|first2=Graham|last3=Santos|first3=Soliman M. Jr.|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0199249598|page=187|last1=Hartmann|first1=Christoff|editor1-last=Nohlen|editor1-first=Dieter|editor2-last=Grotz|editor2-first=Florian|editor3-last=Hartmann|editor3-first=Christof}}

{{see also|2010 Philippine presidential election|2013 Philippine Senate election}}

File:Benigno "Noynoy" S. Aquino III (cropped portrait).jpg, the outgoing president, whose term expired on June 30, 2016]]

File:2010PhilippineVPElectionResults.png

Senator Benigno Aquino III of the Liberal Party, who ran on an anti-corruption platform, won the 2010 election with 42.08% of the votes defeating Joseph Estrada, a former president who was deposed in 2001 after scandals of massive corruption, and several others. Meanwhile, Estrada's running mate, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban), defeated Aquino's running mate, Senator Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party and several others, in the vice presidential election.{{cite news|url = http://www.gmanews.tv/story/193035/congress-proclaims-aquino-as-president-binay-as-vp|title = Congress proclaims Aquino as president, Binay as VP|first = JAM|last = SISANTE|work = GMAnews.tv|access-date=June 9, 2010}} Roxas eventually accused Binay of electoral fraud in the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, citing that some of his votes were recorded as null votes.{{cite news|title = 'Automated mystery' case: Roxas files protest|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100710-280198/Automated-mystery-case-Roxas-files-protest|newspaper = Philippine Daily Inquirer|last = Bordadora|first = Norman|date = July 10, 2010|access-date = July 11, 2010|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100711070951/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100710-280198/Automated-mystery-case-Roxas-files-protest|archive-date = July 11, 2010|df = mdy-all}}

Both Binay and Roxas were subsequently appointed by Aquino to his cabinet, with Binay heading the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council,{{Cite news|title = Binay joins Cabinet as housing czar - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100716-281408/Binay-joins-Cabinet-as-housing-czar|newspaper = Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date = May 31, 2015|date = July 26, 2010|last1 = Burgonio|first1 = TJ|last2 = Balana|first2 = Cynthia|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150619180331/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100716-281408/Binay-joins-Cabinet-as-housing-czar|archive-date = June 19, 2015|df = mdy-all}} and Roxas first being given the Transportation and Communications portfolio, then finally named as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, after the ban of appointing losing candidates expired a year after Aquino took office on June 30, 2010.{{Cite web|title = Roxas takes oath as DILG secretary|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/276121/news/nation/roxas-takes-oath-as-dilg-secretary|access-date=May 31, 2015|date = September 29, 2012|website = GMA News Online}} As of 2014, the tribunal had still not yet acted upon the preliminary motions of both parties and on Binay's counter-protest; the suit is expected to still not have been resolved by the time President Aquino's term expires.{{Cite news|url = http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2014/08/08/1355168/roxas-poll-protest-vs-binay-still-preliminary-stage|title = Roxas poll protest vs Binay still in preliminary stage|last = Punay|first = Edu|date = August 14, 2014|work = The Philippine Star|access-date = June 1, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150619175451/http://www.philstar.com:8080/headlines/2014/08/08/1355168/roxas-poll-protest-vs-binay-still-preliminary-stage|archive-date = June 19, 2015|url-status = dead|df = mdy-all}}

For the midterm 2013 Senate election, Aquino and Roxas formed the Team PNoy coalition;{{cite news|url = http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=824160&publicationSubCategoryId=63|title = LP, NP, NPC eye common ticket|first = Jess|last = Diaz|work = Philippine Star|date = July 5, 2012|access-date = July 5, 2012}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Estrada's PMP and Binay's PDP–Laban forged an electoral alliance, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).{{cite news|url = http://ph.news.yahoo.com/uno-una-erap-binay-unite-160000213.html|title = From UNO to UNA, Erap, Binay unite|first = Marvin|last = Sy|work = Philippine Star|publisher = Yahoo! Philippines News|date = April 4, 2012|access-date = April 5, 2012|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120406121327/http://ph.news.yahoo.com/uno-una-erap-binay-unite-160000213.html|archive-date = April 6, 2012|df = mdy-all}} Team PNoy won nine Senate seats against UNA's three.{{cite news|url = http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/05/19/943716/final-3-senators-elect-proclaimed|title = Final 3 senators-elect proclaimed|first = Shiela|last = Crisostomo|work = Philippine Star|date = May 19, 2013|access-date=May 19, 2013}} Former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chairwoman Grace Poe, daughter of defeated 2004 presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr. topped the senatorial election.{{cite news|date=May 16, 2013|title=6 Senate topnotchers proclaimed|work=ABS-CBNnews.com|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/16/13/6-senate-topnotchers-be-proclaimed|access-date=May 18, 2013}}

In March 2014, PDP–Laban withdrew from UNA, a week after Binay resigned as party chairman, due "to differences with its leaders". Party president Aquilino Pimentel III had a public quarrel with Binay over Migz Zubiri's inclusion in UNA's 2013 senatorial slate, whom Pimentel had accused of cheating in the 2007 Senate election.{{Cite web|title = PDP–Laban bolts UNA after Binay resigns as chairman|url = http://www.interaksyon.com/article/82193/pdp-laban-bolts-una-after-binay-resigns-as-chairman|access-date = May 31, 2015|date = March 7, 2014|website = Interaksyon.com|last = Reyes|first = Ernie|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924044849/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/82193/pdp-laban-bolts-una-after-binay-resigns-as-chairman|archive-date = September 24, 2015|df = mdy-all}} In Pulse Asia survey released in April 2014, the first opinion poll for the presidential election, it showed Binay leading aspiring candidates, with 40% of those surveyed with Grace Poe a far second at 15%.{{cite news|last=Hofileña|first=Chay F.|date=April 29, 2014|title=Binay runaway winner in presidential poll|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/56725-binay-runaway-winner-pulse-asia-poll|access-date=May 1, 2014}}

Several other stalwarts of UNA, such as senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada, who had manifested his intention to run as Binay's running mate, and others such as Senator Bong Revilla of Lakas–CMD, who was planning to run for president, were detained due to their involvement in the pork barrel scam.{{Cite web|title = Jinggoy Estrada ordered arrested by Sandiganbayan|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/366886/news/nation/jinggoy-estrada-ordered-arrested-by-sandiganbayan|access-date=May 31, 2015|date = June 23, 2014|website = GMA News Online|last = Chiu|first = Patricia Denise}}{{Cite web|title = Sen. Bong Revilla surrenders to Sandiganbayan, files motion for bail|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/366541/news/nation/sen-bong-revilla-surrenders-to-sandiganbayan-files-motion-for-bail|access-date=May 31, 2015|date = June 20, 2014|website = GMA News Online|last = Legaspi|first = Amita}} No personalities linked with the Liberal Party involved in the scam were investigated. These actions by the government, which it said was part of its anti-corruption drive, were cited by UNA as "political persecution".{{Cite news|title = Binay hits Aquino admin|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/646918/binay-hits-aquino-admin|newspaper = Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=May 31, 2015|first = Niña|last = Calleja|date = October 26, 2014}}

In July 2014, Renato Bondal, a defeated mayoral candidate in the 2013 Makati mayoral election, filed plunder cases against Makati mayor Jejomar Binay, Jr. and his father, the vice president, to the Ombudsman. By the next month, a subcommittee of the Blue Ribbon Committee composed solely of Pimentel, along with Nacionalista Party members Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV, began Senate hearings against Binay on his alleged corruption while serving as mayor of Makati, beginning with the alleged overpriced annex building of the Makati City Hall.{{Cite web|title = Binay accusers in Makati building case file new petition; Nancy says she won't use proxies|url = http://www.interaksyon.com/article/93527/binay-accusers-in-makati-building-case-file-new-petition-nancy-says-she-wont-use-proxies|access-date = May 31, 2015|date = August 18, 2014|website = Interkasyon.com|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140823003412/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/93527/binay-accusers-in-makati-building-case-file-new-petition-nancy-says-she-wont-use-proxies|archive-date = August 23, 2014|df = mdy-all}} It was followed by hearings on alleged corruption on deals supplying Makati senior citizens with birthday cakes,{{Cite news|url = http://www.rappler.com/nation/66751-binay-overpriced-building|title = From cakes to buildings, Binays 'overprice, chop-chop'|last = Macaraig|first = Ayee|date = August 21, 2014|work = Rappler.com|access-date = June 14, 2015}} an agricultural estate in Rosario, Batangas that Binay allegedly owns,{{Cite web|title = 'Hacienda Binay as big as half of San Juan City'|url = http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/10/08/1377871/hacienda-binay-big-half-san-juan-city|access-date=June 13, 2015|date = October 8, 2014|website = The Philippine Star|last = Bacani|first = Louis}} the allegedly overpriced Makati Science High School,{{Cite web|title = Trillanes inspects another alleged 'overpriced' Binay building–Makati Science High School|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/650817/trillanes-inspects-another-alleged-overpriced-binay-building-makati-science-high-school|website = INQUIRER.net|access-date=June 14, 2015|date = November 15, 2014}} and the relocation of Makati residents to Calauan, Laguna in a community without basic necessities.{{Cite web|title = VP Binay's accuser: Makati govt spent P1.2B on relocation site without electricity, water|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/470834/news/nation/vp-binay-s-accuser-makati-govt-spent-p1-2b-on-relocation-site-without-electricity-water|access-date=June 14, 2015|date = April 16, 2015|website = GMA News Online|last = Calonzo|first = Andreo}}

File:PH-MM-makati-j.p. rizal street-city hall - pasig river view (2014) a0001.JPG; the allegedly overpriced annex is the building to the left.]]

Binay had consistently denied any wrongdoing,{{Cite news|title = Binay: All recycled lies|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/639064/binay-all-recycled-lies|newspaper = Philippine Daily Inquirer|access-date=May 31, 2015|first = Christine|last = Avendaño|date = September 19, 2015}} and from owning the Rosario estate,{{Cite web|title = Binay denies owning Batangas hacienda, says accusers 'just hallucinating'|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/643720/binay-denies-owning-batangas-hacienda-says-accusers-just-hallucinating|website = INQUIRER.net|access-date=June 22, 2015|date = October 9, 2014}} but had never appeared at the Senate.{{Cite news|url = http://www.rappler.com/nation/72683-jejomar-binay-senate-investigation-makati|title = VP Binay still a no-show as Senate hearings resume|last = Cupin|first = Bea|date = October 22, 2014|work = Rappler.com|access-date = June 1, 2015}} UNA Secretary General JV Bautista branded the investigations as part of the "Operation Plan Stop Nognog", insinuating on Binay's dark skin, with Roxas, Cayetano and Trillanes allegedly behind it to prevent Binay from becoming president. He accused billionaire businessman Salvador Zamora as its financier.{{Cite web|title = 'Oplan Nognog: LP plot vs Binay' - Manila Standard Today|url = http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/10/14/-oplan-nognog-lp-plot-vs-binay-/|access-date = June 19, 2015|website = The New Standard|date = October 14, 2014|last = Herrera|first = Christine F.|archive-date = December 20, 2014|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141220075110/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/10/14/-oplan-nognog-lp-plot-vs-binay-|url-status = dead}} In May 2015, the Court of Appeals ordered the 242 bank accounts belonging to Binay to be frozen for six months, when it granted the petition of the Anti-Money Laundering Council and of the Ombudsman. Binay's camp had alleged certain people from the Liberal Party to be behind the freeze order,{{Cite web|title = CA freezes Binay's bank accounts - The Manila Times Online|url = http://www.manilatimes.net/ca-freezes-binays-bank-accounts/183128/|access-date=June 7, 2015|date = May 13, 2015|website = The Manila Times|last = Canlas|first = Jomar}} a charge President Aquino, in a Bombo Radyo interview, himself denied.{{Cite web|title = PNoy denies LP hand in freezing of VP Binay's bank accounts|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/487058/news/nation/pnoy-denies-lp-hand-in-freezing-of-vp-binay-s-bank-accounts|access-date=June 7, 2015|date = May 14, 2015|website = GMA News Online|last = Calonzo|first = Andreo}}

By late May 2015, the subcommittee report recommending the filing of a plunder (corruption worth more than 50 million pesos) complaint against Binay was signed by all three subcommittee members and Grace Poe.{{Cite web|title = Grace Poe signs report recommending plunder raps vs. VP Binay|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/495058/news/nation/grace-poe-signs-report-recommending-plunder-raps-vs-vp-binay|access-date=June 13, 2015|date = May 29, 2015|website = GMA News Online|last = Sisante|first = Jam}} By early June, ten senators had already signed the subcommittee report, making it official and available to be debated upon in the Senate floor.{{Cite web|title = 10 senators sign subcommittee report vs Binay|url = http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/02/1461329/10-senators-sign-subcommittee-report-vs-binay|access-date = June 13, 2015|date = June 2, 2015|website = The Philippine Star|last = Sy|first = Marvin|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150615235723/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/02/1461329/10-senators-sign-subcommittee-report-vs-binay|archive-date = June 15, 2015|url-status = dead|df = mdy-all}} A Pulse Asia presidential survey taken at the time the hearings were done showed Grace Poe overtaking Binay, with her getting 30% of the respondents, over Binay's 22%.{{Cite web|last=Holmes|first=Ronald D.|date=June 18, 2015|title=Pulse Asia Research's June 2015 Nationwide Survey on the May 2016 Elections|url=https://drive.google.com/a/taskus.com.ph/file/d/0B3b9qPFV1cRDdUlsWVZ1QzFnQWc/view?pli=1|access-date=June 18, 2015|website=PulseAsia.ph}} A month later, Binay sued Cayetano, Trillanes and several others for 200 million pesos in damages at the Makati Regional Trial Court for "well-organized and orchestrated effort" to damage his reputation and worsen his chances of becoming president.{{Cite web|title = VIDEO {{!}} VP Binay files P200-M damage suit over 'orchestrated' smear drive to derail 2016 candidacy|url = http://www.interaksyon.com/article/114508/vp-binay-files-p200-m-damage-suit-over-orchestrated-smear-drive-to-derail-2016-candidacy|access-date = July 22, 2015|date = July 20, 2015|website = Interaksyon.com|last2 = Francisco|first2 = Jove|first1 = Ernie|last1 = Reyes|publisher = News5|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150721074705/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/114508/vp-binay-files-p200-m-damage-suit-over-orchestrated-smear-drive-to-derail-2016-candidacy|archive-date = July 21, 2015|df = mdy-all}}

Meanwhile, Aquino held several meetings with Roxas, Poe and Francis Escudero on who should be the standard bearer of the Liberal Party. While none of them had announced their preferences at that time, Aquino was expected to announce his preferred candidate after his final State of the Nation Address late in July. Congressional heads Franklin Drilon and Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. denied that Liberal Party members had been dissatisfied with Aquino's indecision, saying that the party was still united.{{Cite web|title = LP united; 2016 talks on schedule — Belmonte, Drilon|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/706668/lp-united-2016-talks-on-schedule-belmonte-drilon|website = INQUIRER.net|access-date=July 22, 2015|first = Kristine Angeli|last = Sabillo|date = July 21, 2015}}

On early July, Binay launched his party, the United Nationalist Alliance.{{cite news|title = Main opposition party UNA launched|url = http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/02/1472361/main-opposition-party-una-launched|access-date = July 2, 2015|date = July 2, 2015|newspaper = The Philippine Star|first = Helen|last = Flores|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150702200529/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/02/1472361/main-opposition-party-una-launched|archive-date = July 2, 2015|url-status = dead|df = mdy-all}} Later that month, Aquino endorsed Roxas for president, which the latter accepted.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/531033/news/nation/emotional-roxas-accepts-pnoy-endorsement|title=Emotional Roxas accepts PNoy endorsement|date=July 31, 2015|work=GMA News|access-date=July 31, 2015}} In August, Rodrigo Duterte, the Davao City mayor who had been a subject of a strong online following urging him to run, announced his intention to retire from politics after his mayoral term ends in 2016.{{cite news |url = http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/105037-duterte-not-running|title = Duterte: 'I am not running for president'|work = Rappler|access-date=September 8, 2015}} Poe announced her intention to seek the presidency by mid-September,{{Cite web|title = Poe in 2016 {{!}} mb.com.ph {{!}} Philippine News|url = http://www.mb.com.ph/poe-in-2016/|website = Manila Bulletin|access-date=September 17, 2015|first = Hannah|last = Torregoza|date = September 16, 2015}} followed by Escudero's announcing that he'll be her running mate a day later.{{Cite web|title = It's official: Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero to run together in 2016|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/722778/its-official-grace-poe-chiz-escudero-to-run-together-in-2016 |first=Maila |last=Ager |access-date=September 21, 2015|website = INQUIRER.net|date = September 17, 2015}} Several days later, Cayetano announced his vice presidential candidacy, preferring to be Duterte's running mate.

On October 3. Trillanes formally announced his vice presidential campaign as an independent, supporting Poe's presidential campaign.{{Cite web|title = Trillanes running for VP, Magdalo group backs Poe|url = http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/107972-trillanes-running-for-vp-magdalo-group-backs-poe|website = Rappler|access-date=October 27, 2015|date = October 3, 2015}} Days later, Leni Robredo, the representative from Camarines Sur and widow of former Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Jesse Robredo who died in a plane crash in 2012, accepted the offer of the Liberal Party to be Roxas' running mate.{{cite news|last1=Cruz|first1=RG|title=Leni is Mar's running mate|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/05/15/leni-mars-running-mate|access-date=October 6, 2015|work=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|date=October 5, 2015}} Also on that day, Senator Bongbong Marcos announced his candidacy as vice president.{{Cite news|url = http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/05/bongbong-marcos-vice-president-elections-2016-the-filipino-votes.html|title = Bongbong Marcos running for vice president in 2016|date = October 5, 2015|work = CNN Philippines|access-date = October 5, 2015|archive-date = October 8, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151008085446/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/05/bongbong-marcos-vice-president-elections-2016-the-filipino-votes.html|url-status = dead}} A week later, after being nominated by UNA, Senator Gregorio Honasan announced that he would be Binay's running mate.{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/718076/now-its-honasan-as-possible-binay-running-mate|title=Now it's Honasan as possible Binay running mate|author=Delfin T. Mallari Jr.|date=September 2015}} A day later, on the launch of her new book, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago announced her presidential candidacy;{{cite web|title = Miriam announces presidential run in 2016|url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/540496/news/nation/miriam-announces-presidential-run-in-2016|website =GMA News|first=Jessica|last=Bartolome|access-date=October 13, 2015|date = October 13, 2015}} a couple of days later, she announced that Marcos would be her running mate.{{Cite web|title = Miriam Santiago confirms Bongbong Marcos is her vice president|url = http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/731184/miriam-santiago-confirms-bongbong-marcos-is-her-veep|website = INQUIRER.net|access-date=October 27, 2015|date = October 15, 2015|last = Hegina|first = Aries Joseph}}

At the final day of the filing of candidacies, Duterte did not show up; instead, the PDP–Laban nominated Martin Diño, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption.{{cite web|title =VACC chair Martin Diño files COC for president |url = http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/540938/news/nation/vacc-chair-martin-dino-files-coc-for-president |website =GMA News|access-date=October 16, 2015|date = October 26, 2015}} At the end of the day, more than a hundred people registered as presidential candidates, after a 5-day long filing period. These include current OFW Family Club representative Roy Señeres running under the Partido ng Manggagawa at Magsasaka, former representative from Iloilo Augusto Syjuco, who is running as an independent, and Engineer Juanita Mendoza Trocenio under the Partido Bagong Maharlika (PBM). For the vice presidency, nineteen people manifested their intention to run, including former assemblyman from Ifugao Zosimo Jesus Paredes II, who is also running under the Partido Bagong Maharlika.

AC Nielsen Philippines showed on its monitoring report between Jan 1 and Nov 30 that presidential candidate Binay spent 595 million pesos for campaign advertisements on television (before the campaign period). Vice presidential candidate Cayetano led the spenders in the race, spending 398 million pesos worth of TV advertisements.{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/05/1539374/binay-top-tv-ad-spender-4-bets-spend-p1.6-b|title=Binay top TV ad spender; 4 bets spend P1.6 B|newspaper=Philippine Star|last=Diaz|first=Jess|date=January 5, 2016|access-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106043733/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/05/1539374/binay-top-tv-ad-spender-4-bets-spend-p1.6-b|archive-date=January 6, 2016|url-status=dead}} Binay, denied the claim.{{cite news|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/01/05/1539510/binay-im-not-top-tv-ad-spender|title=Binay: I'm not top TV ad spender|newspaper=Philippine Star|last=Viray|first=Patricia Lourdes|date=January 5, 2016|access-date=January 6, 2016}} An article from The Manila Times reported also that the administration's bet, Mar Roxas, led the list of the biggest ad spenders in the country with 774 million peso in television advertisement expenses from January to December, in a survey also conducted by AC Nielsen.{{cite news|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/roxas-top-ad-spender/237958/|title=Roxas top ad spender|newspaper=Manila Times|last=Antiporda|first=Jefferson|date=January 5, 2016|access-date=January 6, 2016}}

{{Main|Candidates in the 2016 Philippine presidential election}}

Under the Constitution of the Philippines, the President and Vice President are elected separately. An initial list of eight presidential candidates were uploaded on the certified candidates list in the commission's database on January 21, 2016.{{cite news |url= http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/552104/news/nation/comelec-uploads-8-names-in-certified-list-of-presidential-bets |title=Comelec uploads 8 names in certified list of presidential bets |publisher=GMA News |date=January 21, 2016 |access-date=January 21, 2016}} But only trimmed down to five, due to the declaration by the commission en banc of Dante Valencia as a nuisance candidate and the withdrawal of certificates of candidacies of Romel Mendoza and Roy Señeres.{{cite news|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/553112/news/nation/comelec-en-banc-upholds-nuisance-tag-on-dante-valencia|title=Comelec en banc upholds nuisance tag on Dante Valencia|publisher=GMA News|last=Dioquino|first=Rose-An Jessica|date=January 28, 2016|access-date=February 1, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/02/01/16/pmp-bet-withdraws-from-2016-race-backs-binay|title=PMP bet withdraws from 2016 race, backs Binay|publisher=ABS-CBN News|date=February 1, 2016|access-date=February 1, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/761927/roy-seneres-withdraws-from-presidential-race|title=Roy Señeres withdraws from presidential race|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=February 5, 2016|access-date=February 5, 2016}}

This is the final and certified list of candidates for the elections to be included in the ballots:{{cite web|url=http://www.comelec.gov.ph/uploads/Archives/RegularElections/2016NLE/Resolutions/res10061.pdf|title=Resolution No. 10061|publisher=Commission on Elections|access-date=February 24, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307131014/http://www.comelec.gov.ph/uploads/Archives/RegularElections/2016NLE/Resolutions/res10061.pdf|archive-date=March 7, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/761887/look-comelec-releases-certified-list-of-presidential-vp-bets|title=LOOK: Comelec releases certified list of presidential, VP bets|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|last=Gonzales|first=Yuji Vincent|date=February 5, 2016|access-date=February 5, 2016}} Jejomar Binay,{{cite news|url=http://graphics.wsj.com/philippines-election-2016-can-the-country-stay-on-track/|title=Can the Philippines Stay on Track?|newspaper=The Wall Street Journal|date=April 18, 2016|access-date=May 3, 2016}} Miriam Defensor Santiago,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36148718|title=Who will lead the Philippines?|work=BBC News|date=April 29, 2016|access-date=May 3, 2016}} Rodrigo Duterte,{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/world/asia/philippines-presidential-election.html|title=Rodrigo Duterte and Other Candidates Seeking to Lead Philippines Tap Into Aquino Fatigue|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 18, 2016|access-date=May 3, 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/04/philippines-elections-2016-what-you-need-to-know|title=Philippine elections 2016: what you need to know – the Guardian briefing|newspaper=The Guardian|date=May 4, 2016|access-date=May 5, 2016}} Grace Poe,{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-03/the-philippine-election-could-shake-up-rising-tiger-s-economy|title=The Philippine Election Could Shake Up Rising Tiger's Economy|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=May 2, 2016|access-date=May 3, 2016}} and Mar Roxas.{{cite news|url=http://www.dw.com/en/who-are-the-philippines-top-presidential-candidates/a-19035071|title=Who are the Philippines' top presidential candidates?|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=February 9, 2016|access-date=February 9, 2016}} Although Señeres withdrew his candidacy and later died, his name was still included on the printed ballots.

Notes:

{{notelist}}

{{main|Jejomar Binay 2016 presidential campaign}}

When questioned by the media at the Coconut Palace in September 2011, Vice President Jejomar Binay (PDP–Laban) confirmed his plans of running as president.{{cite news|last=Araullo|first=Atom|date=September 13, 2011|title=Binay wants to run for president in 2016|work=ABS-CBN News Online|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/13/11/binay-run-president-2016}}

By May 2014, Binay began his search for a running mate. As his potential running mate Senator Jinggoy Estrada was in jail due to his implication in the PDAF scam,{{cite news|last=Macaraig|first=Ayee|date=March 20, 2014|title=Jinggoy: I still have support, machinery for 2016|work=Rappler|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/53457-jinggoy-support-machinery-2016-bid}} Binay's offers were declined by JV Ejercito,{{cite news|last=Cheng|first=Willard|date=May 22, 2014|title=JV rules out running as Binay's vice, cites same skin color|work=Philippine Star|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/22/14/jv-rules-out-running-binays-vice-cites-same-skin-color|access-date=June 8, 2014}} Manny Villar (via wife Cynthia Villar),{{Cite news|date=November 6, 2014|title=Manny Villar for VP? 'Never,' says wife|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/76220-manny-villar-2016-plans|access-date=June 7, 2015}} Vilma Santos (via husband Ralph Recto),{{cite news|last=Santos|first=Matikas|date=March 3, 2015|title=Vilma has no plans for 2016, might retire from politics—Sen. Recto|work=INQUIRER.net|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/581945/vilma-santos-has-no-plans-for-2016-might-retire-from-politics-sen-recto|access-date=May 13, 2015}} Mar Roxas,{{Cite web|date=April 10, 2015|title=Roxas not even thinking of being VP Binay's running mate in 2016|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/467754/news/nation/roxas-not-even-thinking-of-being-vp-binay-s-running-mate-in-2016|access-date=June 22, 2015|website=GMA News Online}} Grace Poe,{{cite news|last=Sisante|first=Johanna Camille|date=May 20, 2015|title=Grace Poe doesn't see herself as VP Binay's running mate|work=GMA News Online|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/490374/news/nation/grace-poe-doesn-t-see-herself-as-vp-binay-s-running-mate|access-date=May 24, 2015}} Rodrigo Duterte and Joseph Estrada.{{Cite web|last=Clapano|first=Jose Rodel|date=June 7, 2015|title=Erap not interested in running for VP|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/07/1463063/erap-not-interested-running-vp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607164648/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/07/1463063/erap-not-interested-running-vp|archive-date=June 7, 2015|access-date=June 7, 2015|website=The Philippine Star}} Binay's daughter Abigail, also the Representative from Makati, said that Binay would accept anyone as his running mate except for Antonio Trillanes, and that she preferred Grace Poe, however Sen. Bongbong Marcos was the most preferred by UNA officials to be his running mate.{{Cite web|last=Viray|first=Patricia Lourdes|date=May 19, 2015|title=Binay's running mate 'anyone but Trillanes'|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/19/1456467/binays-running-mate-anyone-trillanes|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623005328/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/19/1456467/binays-running-mate-anyone-trillanes|archive-date=June 23, 2015|access-date=June 22, 2015|website=The Philippine Star}} On June 12, Independence Day, speech in Iloilo, President Aquino said that he could only offer Binay the conduct of a clean and honest election, but not an outright endorsement.{{Cite web|date=June 13, 2015|title=Mar gets Noy's praise but still no endorsement|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/13/1465293/mar-gets-noys-praise-still-no-endorsement|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615234654/http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/06/13/1465293/mar-gets-noys-praise-still-no-endorsement|archive-date=June 15, 2015|access-date=June 13, 2015|website=The Philippine Star}}

On June 22, Binay resigned from the Aquino cabinet, both as presidential adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers' concerns and as chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, but did not say why.{{Cite news|last=Cabacungan|first=Gil|date=June 23, 2015|title=Fed up, Binay bolts Cabinet|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/700160/fed-up-binay-bolts-cabinet|access-date=June 23, 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} Two days later, Binay addressed the public from his Coconut Palace office, branding the current administration as "manhid at palpak" (insensitive and bumbling), but did not mention Aquino by name.{{Cite news|last=Avendaño|first=Christine|date=June 24, 2015|title=Binay: Aquino government 'palpak'|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/700588/binay-aquino-government-palpak|access-date=June 24, 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} His running mate was confirmed to be Gregorio Honasan.

Senator Gregorio Honasan (United Nationalist Alliance) denied that he was going to be Jejomar Binay's running mate in September 2015.{{Cite web|last=Gita|first=Ruth Abbey|date=September 22, 2015|title=Honasan denies tandem with Binay in 2016 polls|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/09/22/honasan-denies-tandem-binay-2016-polls-431698|access-date=October 15, 2015|website=Sun.Star Manila|archive-date=September 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928081946/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/09/22/honasan-denies-tandem-binay-2016-polls-431698|url-status=dead}} By the next month, however, he said that his team-up with Binay was possible.{{Cite web|last=Ager|first=Maila|date=October 5, 2015|title='Bi-Hon' tandem in 2016 possible, says Honasan|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/728038/bi-hon-tandem-in-2016-possible-says-honasan|access-date=October 15, 2015|website=INQUIRER.net}} On October 12, 2015, Honasan announced that he will be running with Binay as the latter's vice president.{{cite web|author=Delfin T. Mallari Jr.|title=Now it's Honasan as possible Binay running mate|date=September 2015|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/718076/now-its-honasan-as-possible-binay-running-mate}}

{{main|Miriam Defensor Santiago 2016 presidential campaign}}

In a press conference on July 2, 2014, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago (People's Reform Party) revealed that she was suffering from stage 4 lung cancer and she might run as president for the third time if it goes into remission.{{cite news|date=July 2, 2014|title=Senator Miriam Santiago may go for 2016 presidential bid if...|work=GMA News|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/368296/news/nation/senator-miriam-santiago-may-go-for-2016-presidential-bid-if|access-date=April 26, 2015}} Called "the Iron Lady of Asia" and a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, she was the widely expected winner of the 1992 election, but lost after an inexplicably unscheduled power outage during the counting of votes. She then ran for a Senate seat in 1995 and won. She became one of the most popular senators since then, owing to her broad media visibility as well as to the high number of laws and bills she authored, a record that stands up to this day. She once again ran for president in 1998, but lost, citing black propaganda against her during the campaign.

By November 2014, Santiago, in a tweet, announced that "In the 2016 presidential elections, when I am rid of my lung cancer, I intend to claim the presidency I won in 1992." In a letter to the Senate, Santiago said that more than 90% of the cancer cells have regressed.{{cite news|date=November 15, 2014|title=Miriam seriously eyeing presidency|work=ABS-CBNnews.com|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/14/14/miriam-seriously-eyeing-presidency|access-date=April 26, 2015}}

Santiago announced her candidacy for president in the launch of her book "Stupid is Forever" on October 13, 2015. She ran under the People's Reform Party, the same party in which she ran under during her 1992 and 1998 presidential campaigns.{{cite web|last=Bartolome|first=Jessica|date=October 13, 2015|title=Miriam announces presidential run in 2016|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/540496/news/nation/miriam-announces-presidential-run-in-2016|access-date=October 13, 2015|website=GMA News}} Days later, Santiago announced that Senator Bongbong Marcos would be her vice presidential running mate, a decision that largely earned criticism from progressives as Marcos is the son of the former president and dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Her platform stood on the effective and efficient upholding and implementation of national and state-recognized international laws, enhancement of the agriculture industry with a focus on irrigation and farm-to-market roads, enhancing all seaports and airports in the country, creating at least one major government project in all provinces and all regions in the Philippines, building and highlighting the country's diplomatic affairs in the international level while skyrocketing the country's defense capabilities, and eradicating graft and corruption, which she believes to be the cause of poverty and inefficiency in the country.{{Cite web|last=Hegina|first=Aries Joseph|date=October 15, 2015|title=Miriam Santiago confirms Bongbong Marcos is her vice president|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/731184/miriam-santiago-confirms-bongbong-marcos-is-her-veep|access-date=October 27, 2015|website=INQUIRER.net}} Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte gave in an interview in November 2015 his comments on his fellow candidates' qualities, stating that "[i]f you want extraordinary competence and integrity, vote for Miriam."{{cite news|date=November 23, 2015|title=Duterte has 'car but no gasoline' for 2016 race|work=BusinessWorld Online|publisher=BusinessWorld Publishing Corporation|url=http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?id=119102|access-date=February 11, 2016|archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110184435/http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?id=119102|url-status=dead}}

Asked on a November 2012 interview at DZBB on his plans to run in 2016, Senator Bongbong Marcos (Nacionalista Party) said "never say never."{{cite news|last=Macaraig|first=Ayee|date=November 25, 2012|title=Marcos on 2016: Never say never|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections-2013/16735-marcos-on-2016-never-say-never}} By March 2015, in another interview, this time at DZMM, he said that he "will thoroughly study everything."{{cite news|last=Ramos-Araneta|first=Macon|date=March 23, 2015|title=Bongbong admits he's eyeing presidential run|work=Manila Standard Today|url=http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/03/23/bongbong-admits-he-s-eyeing-presidential-run/|url-status=dead|access-date=March 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330011959/http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/03/23/bongbong-admits-he-s-eyeing-presidential-run|archive-date=March 30, 2015}} In August 2015, after reports surfaced of him being Jejomar Binay's running mate, Marcos clarified on an interview at the ABS-CBN News Channel that he is still undecided on what position to run for, but he would certainly not be defending his Senate seat.{{Cite news|last=Salaverria|first=Leila B.|date=August 27, 2015|title=Bongbong Marcos mulls over Palace run|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/716677/bongbong-marcos-mulls-over-palace-run|access-date=August 27, 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}} On October 5, 2015, Senator Bongbong Marcos announced his candidacy for vice president in the 2016 election, and would support the candidacy of Rodrigo Duterte if he ever does run.{{Cite news|date=October 5, 2015|title=Bongbong Marcos running for vice president in 2016|work=CNN Philippines|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/05/bongbong-marcos-vice-president-elections-2016-the-filipino-votes.html|access-date=October 5, 2015|archive-date=October 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151008085446/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/05/bongbong-marcos-vice-president-elections-2016-the-filipino-votes.html|url-status=dead}} Days later, Duterte declined Cayetano's and Marcos' offers to be their presidential running mate.

{{main|Rodrigo Duterte 2016 presidential campaign}}

Early in 2015, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte made hints to the media of his intent to run for the presidency come 2016, with a widely praised promise of abolishing Congress altogether in favor of a Parliament should he win.{{cite news|date=January 26, 2015|title=Duterte talks about what he'll do if he's elected president in 2016|newspaper=Coconuts Manila|url=http://manila.coconuts.co/2015/01/26/duterte-talks-about-what-hell-do-if-hes-elected-president-2016}}{{cite news|last=Serrano|first=Ben|date=January 26, 2015|title=Duterte eyes abolition of Congress|newspaper=Yahoo News Philippines|url=https://ph.news.yahoo.com/duterte-eyes-abolition-congress-000000572.html}}{{cite news|last=Serrano|first=Ben|date=January 26, 2015|title=Duterte eyes abolition of Congress if elected president in 2016|newspaper=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/nation/2015/01/26/1416721/duterte-eyes-abolition-congress-if-elected-president-2016}} Earlier, in February 2014, Duterte was reportedly enjoying the support of several netizens lauding his performance as mayor of Davao City, especially in maintaining peace and order in the city, but he was quick to shrug off calls for him to run for president, saying he was not qualified for a higher public office.{{cite news|last=Hogaza|first=Mary Rose|date=February 5, 2014|title=Duterte shrugs off calls to run for president|work=Manila Bulletin|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/duterte-shrugs-off-calls-to-run-for-president/}} A year later, Duterte said in a Baguio federalism forum that he'll only run for president "if (it is) to save the republic." Duterte cited the need of about 10 to 15 billion pesos for a campaign war chest as what was keeping him from running.{{cite news|last=Micua|first=Leonardo V.|date=February 19, 2015|title=Duterte to run for president 'if only to save the republic' but does not have P10B in campaign money|work=Philippine News Agency|publisher=Interaksyon.com|url=http://www.interaksyon.com/article/105388/duterte-to-run-for-president-if-only-to-save-the-republic-but-does-not-have-p10b-in-campaign-money|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221211132/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/105388/duterte-to-run-for-president-if-only-to-save-the-republic-but-does-not-have-p10b-in-campaign-money|archive-date=February 21, 2015}} Days later, however, Duterte "re-entered" PDP–Laban; he maintained he never left the party, and only had to stand under a local party banner (Hugpong) in the 2013 local election in order to ensure his victory.{{cite news|last1=Esmaquel|first1=Paterno II|date=February 21, 2015|title=Duterte 're-enters' PDP-Laban amid 2016 prospects|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/84620-rodrigo-duterte-pdp-laban|access-date=June 1, 2015}} PDP–Laban president Aquilino Pimentel III later said that Duterte was among his party's options for a presidential candidate for 2016, noting that the party's position on federalism coincides with Duterte's advocacy.{{cite news|last=Fernandez|first=Amanda|date=February 21, 2015|title=Pimentel: PDP-Laban might field Davao Mayor Duterte in 2016 polls|work=GMA News Online|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/441702/news/nation/pimentel-pdp-laban-might-field-davao-mayor-duterte-in-2016-polls}} A few days after reports came out saying incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay (a presidential aspirant) was eyeing Duterte as his possible running mate, Duterte issued a statement saying he was not interested in running for a national post.{{cite news|date=May 23, 2015|title=Duterte: I won't run for national post in 2016|work=ABS-CBNnews.com|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/05/23/15/duterte-i-wont-run-national-post-2016|access-date=May 23, 2015}}

In September 2014, Duterte already declined presidential aspirant and incumbent senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago's offer to be her running mate, saying that instead of picking him as the senator's running mate, she could ask former defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. instead.{{cite news|date=September 14, 2014|title=Poe says no; Duterte tells Santiago: Take Gibo Teodoro|work=INQUIRER.net|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/637306/poe-says-no-duterte-tells-santiago-take-gibo-teodoro|access-date=May 13, 2015}} However, in October 2015, Santiago chose Bongbong Marcos as her running mate.{{cite web|title=Miriam Santiago: Bongbong Marcos is my running mate|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/109349-miriam-santiago-bongbong-marcos-is-my-running-mate|website=Rappler|date=October 15, 2015}}

Later, during the June 21, 2015 airing of his weekly program in a local channel (Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa), Duterte stated that he was considering suggestions from his friends and supporters to run for president. He also added that he will stop expressing non-interest in starting a presidential campaign.{{cite news|last1=Dioquino|first1=Rose-An Jessica|last2=Aguinaldo|first2=Sandra|date=June 22, 2015|title=Duterte says he will now 'consider' presidential bid|publisher=GMA News|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/508242/news/nation/duterte-says-he-will-now-consider-presidential-bid|access-date=June 22, 2015}}

On September 7, 2015, in a press conference held at Davao City, Duterte officially declared he will not be running for president in 2016 and apologized to all of his supporters on the decision. He additionally stated that he might retire from politics after his term as mayor of Davao City ends in 2016 and his daughter runs for the office. Other factors he states of his possible retirement included age, health concerns and his family's objections.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/719960/dutertes-final-answer-i-wont-run-for-president Duterte's final answer: I won't run for president - Inquirer.net.] Mixed reactions erupted in social media hours after the declaration and several supporters still continued to petition online, urging the mayor to revert his decision.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/720327/dutertes-die-hard-fans-refuse-to-lose-hope-as-mayor-shows-up-in-events Duterte's die-hard fans refuse to lose hope as mayor shows up in events - Inquirer.net.]

On September 26, 2015, a large number of supporters gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila to urge Duterte to officially run for the presidency in 2016.[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/25/15/duterte-supporters-all-set-million-people-march Duterte supporters all set for 'million people march' - ABS-CBN News.][http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/25/15/rally-duterte-not-million-people-march Rally for Duterte not a 'million people march' - ABS-CBN News.] Despite being an undeclared candidate, Pulse Asia Research Director Ana Tabunda still considered Duterte "a serious contender" as he was already ranked 4th in a presidential survey done by Pulse Asia from late August to early September, as well as in a Social Weather Stations survey.[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/09/28/15/pulse-asia-poll-duterte-now-serious-contender Pulse Asia poll: Duterte now a serious contender - ABS-CBN News.] Duterte's long-time political rival and critic, former House Speaker Prospero Nograles, also expressed his support for Duterte if ever the latter decided to run for the presidency.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/09/28/nograles-declares-support-dutertes-presidential-bid-432787 |title=Nograles declares support for Duterte's presidential bid - Sun.Star Manila. |access-date=October 29, 2015 |archive-date=March 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326023615/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2015/09/28/nograles-declares-support-dutertes-presidential-bid-432787 |url-status=dead }} On September 29, incumbent Senator Alan Peter Cayetano declared his intention to run for the 2016 vice presidential post in a press event held in Davao City and considered Duterte his first choice as running mate for the presidential post; this eventually led to a meeting between the two parties.[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/09/30/15/cayetano-woos-duterte-we-need-real-leader Cayetano woos Duterte: We need a real leader - ABS-CBN News.] A day after meeting with Cayetano, Duterte met with another incumbent senator, Bongbong Marcos, who also went to Davao City to personally talk to Duterte. Marcos was reportedly considering running for the vice presidential post as well; Marcos had not yet made any formal proclamation at that time. As with the Cayetano meeting, Duterte still declared that he was not running for president.{{Cite web |url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/01/Rodrigo-Duterte-meets-Bongbong-Marcos-a-day-after-Cayetano.html |title=Marcos meets with Duterte in Davao City - CNN Philippines. |access-date=October 29, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201627/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/01/Rodrigo-Duterte-meets-Bongbong-Marcos-a-day-after-Cayetano.html |url-status=dead }}

On October 13, 2015, in a press conference held at a local hotel in Davao City, Duterte finalized his decision not to run for the presidency, with daughter Sara's objection being pointed out as one of the main contributors.[http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/10/13/1510175/duterte-insists-im-not-running Duterte insists: I'm not running - PhilStar.]

On October 15, 2015, Duterte, through a representative, filed his candidacy for Mayor of Davao City at the local elections office.{{Cite web |url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/15/rodrigo-duterte-davao-mayor-reelection-elections-2016.html |title=Rodrigo Duterte to seek re-election as Davao City mayor - CNN Philippines. |access-date=October 29, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123433/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/15/rodrigo-duterte-davao-mayor-reelection-elections-2016.html |url-status=dead }} A day later, Duterte's daughter Sara, posted on her Instagram account a photo of her candidacy as mayor of Davao City, while hinting that her father would seek a higher post and withdraw his mayoral re-election bid.[http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/540914/news/regions/sara-duterte-prepares-coc-for-davao-mayor-hints-at-dad-s-presidential-run Sara Duterte prepares COC for Davao mayor, hints at dad's presidential run - GMA News Online.] However, it was not received by the commission in Davao City.[http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/540942/news/regions/duterte-aide-sara-didn-t-file-coc-for-mayor Duterte aide: Sara didn't file COC for mayor - GMA News Online.] Duterte's possibility of substitution until December 10 was opened after Martin Diño, father of celebrity Liza Diño, chairman of Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, and former barangay captain of Brgy. San Antonio, Quezon City, filed his candidacy for president on the last minute. Diño is a member of PDP–Laban, the same party advocating the federalism system where Duterte belongs.[http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/731841/duterte-i-wont-be-a-substitute-candidate Duterte: ‘I won't be a substitute candidate’ - Inquirer.net.] Diño clarified that there was a "clerical error" on his submitted candidacy (running for Pasay mayor, instead of president). On their general meeting held in Pasay on October 26, members of PDP–Laban had expressed their support to Diño in his presidential bid.{{cite web|date=October 26, 2015|title=PDP–Laban's Martin Diño says he's not a spare tire|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/542017/news/nation/pdp-laban-s-martin-dino-says-he-s-not-a-spare-tire|access-date=October 26, 2015|website=GMA News}} On October 21, Duterte told CNN Philippines' News.PH interview that there was still a chance he would change his mind. The decision, however, would have to be made by the PDP–Laban.{{Cite web|title=Duterte: It's up to PDP–Laban to substitute me as standard bearer - CNN Philippines.|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/22/Duterte-Its-up-to-PDP-Laban-to-substitute-me-for-Di%C3%B1o-as-standard-bearer.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115908/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/22/Duterte-Its-up-to-PDP-Laban-to-substitute-me-for-Di%C3%B1o-as-standard-bearer.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=October 29, 2015}}

On October 27, PDP–Laban confirmed that Duterte will substitute as the party's presidential bet if Diño withdraws or is disqualified by the Commission of Elections.{{Cite web |url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/27/Rodrigo-Rody-Duterte-Martin-Dino-2016-elections-PDP-Laban-president.html |title=PDP-Laban decision final: Duterte to substitute if Diño withdraws presidential bid - CNN Philippines. |access-date=October 28, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304124142/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/27/Rodrigo-Rody-Duterte-Martin-Dino-2016-elections-PDP-Laban-president.html |url-status=dead }} Two days later, Diño withdrew his presidential bid and named Duterte as his substitute because of a possibility that Diño might be declared as a nuisance candidate by the commission.{{cite web|last1=Takumi|first1=Rie|title=Martin Diño withdraws candidacy for president, names Duterte as substitute|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/542407/news/nation/martin-dino-withdraws-candidacy-for-president-names-duterte-as-substitute|access-date=October 29, 2015|website=gmanetwork.com|date=October 29, 2015 }}

On November 21, in a gathering held in his alma mater San Beda College, Duterte formally announced his presidential bid and also finally accepted Alan Peter Cayetano's offer to be his running mate.{{cite web|title=Duterte makes a stand|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/duterte-makes-a-stand/#LubMmVQSGTGM834v.99|access-date=November 22, 2015|website=Manila Bulletin}} Duterte said he was disappointed over the decision made by the Senate Electoral Tribunal regarding Grace Poe's citizenship as well as the current administration's handling of the 'laglag-bala' issue.{{cite web|title=Duterte now open to running, says he is disappointed over Poe decision and 'laglag-bala'|url=http://m.kickerdaily.com/duterte-open-to-running-disappointed-over-poe-decision-and-laglag-bala/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122083736/http://m.kickerdaily.com/duterte-open-to-running-disappointed-over-poe-decision-and-laglag-bala/|archive-date=November 22, 2015|work=Kicker Daily News}} Duterte further stated that he will file his candidacy immediately after he reached out to his party.[http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/11/21/15/duterte-decides-to-run-for-president Duterte decides to run for president - ABS-CBN News.] However, the legality of Duterte's substitution for Diño was questioned by some electoral lawyers because of an error made in Diño's certificate of candidacy that made him a Pasay mayoral bet despite being a resident of Quezon City.

Duterte topped all other candidates, including former front-runner Grace Poe, in a survey published November 25, 2015, and held by Pulse Asia.{{cite web|title=Duterte leads in Metro poll|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/742540/duterte-leads-in-metro-poll|access-date=November 26, 2015|website=inquirer.net|date=November 26, 2015}} Poe said that the survey was 'inconclusive' and 'not reflective' and claimed it was made by Duterte's camp.{{cite web|title=Poe camp calls poll topped by Duterte 'inconclusive'|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/742649/poe-camp-calls-poll-topped-by-duterte-inconclusive|access-date=November 26, 2015|website=Inquirer|date=November 26, 2015}} The day after, Duterte filed his certificate of candidacy at the commission main office in Manila and withdrew his bid for Mayor of Davao City (for which he was substituted by his daughter, Sara).{{cite web|date=November 27, 2015|title=Duterte files COC for president|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/545982/news/nation/duterte-files-coc-for-president|access-date=November 27, 2015|publisher=GMA News}}

In a March 2013 interview with the ABS-CBN News Channel, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano (Nacionalista Party), said that "I want to be president of this country."{{cite news|date=March 5, 2014|title=Senator Alan Cayetano on 2016 polls: 'I want to be president'|work=ANC - Yahoo|url=https://anc.yahoo.com/news/senator-alan-cayetano-on-2016-polls--i-don%E2%80%99t-want-to-run--i-want-to-win-060709390.html|url-status=dead|access-date=June 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308155238/http://anc.yahoo.com/news/senator-alan-cayetano-on-2016-polls--i-don%E2%80%99t-want-to-run--i-want-to-win-060709390.html|archive-date=March 8, 2014}} In September 2015, after several surveys saw him trailing in the presidential race, said that he is withdrawing from the presidential election, and would instead focus for the vice presidency, preferably as the running mate of either Mar Roxas or Rodrigo Duterte.

A few days later in a Davao City meeting, Cayetano announced that he will seek candidacy for running as vice president. Cayetano, who he is the member of Nacionalista Party, did not mention his presidential running-mate as the Nacionalistas will meet in a few days, for their decision.{{Cite web|last=Viray|first=Patricia Lourdes|date=September 19, 2015|title=Cayetano to run for VP|url=http://www.philstar.com/election-2016/latest-news/2015/09/29/1505238/cayetano-run-vp|access-date=September 29, 2015|website=INQUIRER.net}} On October 1, Duterte said that if he would ever run for president, he would prefer Cayetano to be his running mate.{{Cite web|date=October 1, 2015|title=Duterte wants Cayetano as 2016 running mate if he decides to run|url=http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/duterte-wants-cayetano-as-2016-running-mate-if-he-decides-to-run/|access-date=October 15, 2015|website=The Business Mirror}} Days later, Duterte declined the offer to be Cayetano and Bongbong Marcos' offers to be their presidential running mate.{{Cite web|last=Colina|first=Antonio L. IV|date=October 4, 2015|title=Duterte declines team-up offer of Cayetano, Marcos|url=http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2015/10/04/duterte-declines-team-up-offer-of-cayetano-marcos/|access-date=October 15, 2015|website=MindaNews}} However, during a phone interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer In November 2015, Cayetano confirmed Duterte as his running mate if ever the latter confirms his candidacy for presidency.{{cite news|last1=Calleja|first1=Niña|last2=Ubac|first2=Michael Lim|date=November 22, 2015|title=IT'S OFFICIAL: Duterte, Cayetano team up for 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/741458/its-official-duterte-cayetano-team-up-for-2016|access-date=November 24, 2015}}

{{main|Grace Poe 2016 presidential campaign}}

Grace Poe's surprising first-place finish in the 2013 Senate election as an independent made her a likely contender for the presidency but she dismissed any plans of running in April 2014, saying she was not considering "anything higher at this point" and even declaring that Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago was the most qualified to run as president.{{cite news|last=Burgonio|first=TJ|date=April 1, 2014|title=Grace Poe says she's not ready for 2016 Palace run|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/590668/grace-poe-says-shes-not-ready-for-2016-palace-run}}

On President Aquino's state visit to Canada in May 2015, the president disclosed that he had met with Poe prior to the trip, although he didn't say what the meeting was for.{{cite news|last=Medina|first=Andrei|date=May 9, 2015|title=PNoy confirms talking politics with Poe but is mum on details|work=GMA News Online|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/484522/news/nation/pnoy-confirms-talking-politics-with-poe-but-is-mum-on-details|access-date=May 17, 2015}} A couple of days later, Poe confirmed that she did meet with Aquino. Poe said that they "discussed his intention to choose a candidate who, first and foremost, has the trust of the nation, and, secondly, has the potential to win in the election, in order to sustain the reforms especially against corruption and the pro-poor programs of the government." Poe expected more meetings with Aquino in June.{{cite news|last=Reyes|first=Ernie|date=May 11, 2015|title=Poe: PNoy offered no position yet, more talks seen this June|work=Interaksyon.com|url=http://www.interaksyon.com/article/110344/poe-pnoy-offered-no-position-yet-more-talks-seen-this-june|url-status=dead|access-date=May 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095936/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/110344/poe-pnoy-offered-no-position-yet-more-talks-seen-this-june|archive-date=May 18, 2015}}

On June 2, UNA interim president Toby Tiangco, responding to calls for Jejomar Binay to "come clean" on his corruption allegations, said in a press conference that Poe is not qualified to run either for president or vice president after citing her certificate of candidacy in the 2013 Senate election, which stated that she is a resident for six years and six months; adding three years for the 2016 election, nine years and six months or six months short mandated by the constitution.{{Cite web|last=Cayabyab|first=Marc|date=June 2, 2015|title=Grace Poe lacks residency, not qualified to run for president or VP – solon|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/695676/grace-poe-lacks-residency-not-qualified-to-run-as-president-or-vp-solon|access-date=June 7, 2015|website=INQUIRER.net}} Two days later, before a Senate session, Poe said that she wrote "six years and six months" because it was in April 2006 that her home in the United States was sold. Poe, who had been a resident of the United States for 13 years, returned to the Philippines after her father Fernando Poe, Jr., a presidential candidate in the 2004 elections, died in December 2004. She said that she had proof that she has been living in the Philippines since February 2005. She said, that despite being a congressman for Navotas, Tiangco lives elsewhere, and that her decision on whether to run in 2016 is "50%" sure. Poe also observed that the attacks from UNA only began after she signed the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee report recommending plunder and graft cases against Binay.{{Cite news|date=June 4, 2015|title=Grace Poe: I'm qualified|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/696058/grace-poe-im-qualified|access-date=June 7, 2015|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer}}

On September 16, at a gathering at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, Poe announced her intention to seek the presidency, saying that "no one person or group has a monopoly on a straight path advocacy" of President Aquino, a shot against the Aquino party's nominee Roxas, who was advocating for continuation of the "Daang Matuwid" (straight path) advocacy of Aquino; while also hitting the Administration programs. This resulted in the Palace questioning their Daang Matuwid advocacy contrary to their speeches.{{Cite web|last=Torregoza|first=Hannah|date=September 16, 2015|title=Poe in 2016|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/poe-in-2016/|access-date=September 17, 2015|website=Manila Bulletin}}

On December 1, the commission's second division had formally disqualified Poe from running as president in the 2016 elections and cancelled her filed Certificate of Candidacy for not failing to meet with citizenship and residency requirements. The division voted 3–0 in favor of the petition filed by Attorney Estrella Elamparo to disqualify Poe. The decision stated that Poe had failed to comply with the 10-year residency requirement, mandatory for a presidential candidate.{{cite web|date=December 1, 2015|title=Comelec division disqualifies Poe from 2016 presidential race|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/546387/news/nation/comelec-division-disqualifies-poe-from-2016-presidential-race|access-date=December 1, 2015|publisher=GMA News Online}}

On December 23, 2015, the commission en banc disqualified Poe from running as president in the 2016 elections for failing to meet the 10-year residency requirement.{{cite news|date=December 23, 2015|title=Comelec en banc bars Grace Poe from running in 2016|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/116912-comelec-en-banc-bars-grace-poe-from-running|access-date=December 23, 2015}}[https://www.wsj.com/articles/philippines-election-faces-turmoil-as-favorite-grace-poe-disqualified-1450864915 Philippines Election Faces Turmoil as Favorite Grace Poe Disqualified ], The Wall Street Journal. December 23, 2015. Poe said she would appeal the disqualification to the Supreme Court. On December 28, 2015, the Supreme Court issued two temporary restraining orders against the decision of the commission en banc.[http://www.ibtimes.com/philippines-presidential-election-grace-poe-kept-ballot-now-supreme-court-2241801 Philippines Presidential Election: Grace Poe Kept On Ballot For Now By Supreme Court], International Business Times. December 28, 2015.

On March 8, 2016, voting 9–6, the Supreme Court voted to affirm Poe's natural-born status and 10-year residency.{{cite news|last=Tupaz|first=Voltaire|date=March 8, 2016|title=SC allows Grace Poe to run for president|work=Rappler|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/124191-supreme-court-decision-grace-poe|access-date=March 8, 2016}}{{cite news|last=Torres-Tupas|first=Tetch|date=March 8, 2016|title=SC rules in favor of Poe in DQ case|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/771636/sc-rules-in-favor-of-poe-in-dq-case|access-date=March 8, 2016}} On April 9, 2016, the Supreme Court declared their ruling as final and executory.{{cite news|last=Torres-Tupas|first=Tetch|date=April 9, 2016|title=No more roadblocks: SC paves way for Grace Poe run|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/778501/no-more-roadblocks-sc-paves-way-for-grace-poe-run|access-date=April 9, 2016}}

Senator Francis Escudero (independent) said in a March 2012 Rappler interview that "Let me be honest, candid, yet factual about it. I would be very interested in seeking a higher office in 2016 for the simple reason that I'm halfway through my last term."{{cite news|last=Fonbuena|first=Carmela|date=April 20, 2012|title=Chiz 'very interested' in 2016 race|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/4118--very-interested-in-2016-race|access-date=January 25, 2014|archive-date=September 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912104357/https://www.rappler.com/nation/4118-chiz-very-interested-in-2016-race|url-status=dead}} By May 2015, Grace Poe told reporters that she would not run against Escudero.{{cite news|last=Macaraig|first=Ayee|date=May 14, 2014|title=Escudero on 2016: Poe and I haven't decided|work=Rappler.com|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/93123-francis-escudero-2016-plans|access-date=May 24, 2015}}

On September 17 at the Club Filipino in San Juan, Escudero announced his vice presidential bid, becoming Poe's running mate.{{Cite web|last=Ager|first=Maila|date=September 17, 2015|title=It's official: Grace Poe, Chiz Escudero to run together in 2016|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/722778/its-official-grace-poe-chiz-escudero-to-run-together-in-2016|access-date=September 21, 2015|website=INQUIRER.net}}

{{main|Mar Roxas 2016 presidential campaign}}

Senate President Franklin Drilon, when describing the Liberal Party's plans for Interior Secretary Mar Roxas' in 2016, told the media in January 2013 that "so far as the LP is concerned, [and] in so far as I am concerned, we believe that he is best qualified for 2016."{{cite news|date=January 13, 2013|title=Drilon: Mar Roxas is LP's bet in 2016 presidential polls|work=GMA News Online|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/292590/news/nation/drilon-mar-roxas-is-lp-s-bet-in-2016-presidential-polls}} Two years later, Drilon told DZIQ AM radio that Roxas had expressed his interest internally within the party.{{cite news|last1=Salaverria|first1=Leila B.|last2=Calleja|first2=Niña P.|date=April 18, 2015|title=Surprise: Roxas tells LP he will run in 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/686291/surprise-roxas-tells-lp-he-will-run-in-2016|access-date=April 18, 2015}} Several Liberal Party stalwarts had by then expressed that Roxas should declare his intentions at that time,{{Cite news|last=Legaspi|first=Amita O.|date=May 18, 2015|title=Drilon tells Mar Roxas: Declare plan to run for President|work=GMA News Online|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/489246/news/nation/drilon-tells-mar-roxas-declare-plan-to-run-for-president|access-date=May 20, 2015}} with some such as Budget Secretary Florencio Abad suggesting that Roxas may slide down to run for the vice presidency again.{{Cite news|last=Esguerra|first=Christian V.|date=May 17, 2015|title=Roxas may slide down for Poe, says LP|work=INQUIRER.net|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/691932/roxas-may-slide-down-for-poe-says-lp|access-date=May 20, 2015}}

Aquino had a series of meetings between Roxas, Grace Poe and Francis Escudero from prior to Aquino's state visit to Canada in May, until days before his final State of the Nation Address in July, including a July dinner with all three of them at the Bahay Pangarap, Aquino's official residence at the Malacañang Palace complex. While Roxas was seen as Aquino's choice to succeed him, another question was who would be Roxas' running mate, as Poe had earlier said that she'd rather run with Escudero as her running mate.{{Cite web|date=July 16, 2015|title=Aquino hosts make-or-break dinner meeting|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/705436/dinner-meeting-among-aquino-poe-roxas-escudero-ongoing|access-date=August 1, 2015|website=INQUIRER.net}}

On July 31, 2015, at an event dubbed as "A Gathering of Friends", Roxas formally accepted the Liberal Party's nomination after he was officially endorsed by President Benigno Aquino III in the presence of their political allies at the Club Filipino, San Juan, where Roxas had announced his decision to withdraw from the 2010 presidential election and give way to Aquino's presidential bid. Aquino also announced his candidacy there on September 9, 2009.{{cite news|date=July 31, 2015|title=Emotional Roxas accepts PNoy endorsement|work=GMA News|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/531033/news/nation/emotional-roxas-accepts-pnoy-endorsement|access-date=July 31, 2015}} On the same day, Roxas formally launched his campaign website.

In August 2015, Representative Leni Robredo, from Camarines Sur's third district (Liberal Party), said that talk of plans of her running in 2016 is "too soon", and that she'd only run if she's "indispensable".{{Cite web|last=Cupin|first=Bea|date=August 4, 2015|title=Leni Robredo on VP race: 'Too soon'|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/101538-leni-robredo-vp-race-too-soon|access-date=August 5, 2015|website=Rappler}}

After the initial objections of her daughters, Robredo decided to run for vice president, accepting the offers of President Aquino and Mar Roxas.{{cite news|last1=Lozada|first1=Aaron|date=October 5, 2015|title=What convinced Leni Robredo to run for VP|work=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/focus/10/05/15/what-convinced-leni-robredo-run-vp|access-date=October 6, 2015}} She officially announced her candidacy for the office on October 5, 2015, at the Club Filipino.{{cite news|last1=Cruz|first1=RG|date=October 5, 2015|title=Leni is Mar's running mate|work=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|publisher=ABS-CBN Corporation|url=http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/05/15/leni-mars-running-mate|access-date=October 6, 2015}}

One vice presidential candidate did not have a running mate.

In the news program Bandila's May 30, 2014, segment where a guest is asked to answer only "yes" or "no," Senator Antonio Trillanes IV (Nacionalista Party) was asked if he would run for vice president in 2016 and responded by saying "Let's just say yes, I will run. As for what position, I will abide by the Nacionalista Party."{{cite news|last=Ager|first=Maila|date=May 30, 2014|title=Trillanes: I will run for a higher position in 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/606869/trillanes-i-will-run-for-a-higher-position-in-2016}}

By August 2015, Trillanes revealed his plans of running as an independent vice presidential candidate, saying that the Nacionalistas would not endorse a candidate if more than one of them ran for the vice presidency. Trillanes' own group, Magdalo, backed his vice presidential bid.{{cite news|last=Viray|first=Patricia Lourdes|date=August 19, 2015|title=Trillanes to run as independent VP in 2016|newspaper=The Philippine Star|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/08/19/1489828/trillanes-run-independent-vp-2016|access-date=September 20, 2015}}

In a general assembly of MAGDALO coalition members, Trillanes announced that he will run for vice president as an Independent, but will support the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe.{{cite web|title=As Poe thanks Trillanes, Binay camp blasts senator's VP bid|url=http://www.interaksyon.com/article/118440/as-poe-thanks-trillanes-binay-camp-blasts-senators-vp-bid|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208090433/http://www.interaksyon.com/article/118440/as-poe-thanks-trillanes-binay-camp-blasts-senators-vp-bid|archive-date=December 8, 2015|work=InterAksyon.com}}{{cite web|title=Chiz grateful for Trillanes, Magdalo's Poe endorsement|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/10/04/1507046/chiz-grateful-trillanes-magdalos-poe-endorsement|work=philstar.com}}

Trillanes questioned the presidential bid of Rodrigo Duterte, saying that if Duterte wins, his presidency will be a disaster to the Philippines.{{cite news|date=January 6, 2016|title=Trillanes: Duterte presidency a disaster for PH|publisher=ABS-CBN News|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/focus/v1/01/06/16/trillanes-duterte-presidency-a-disaster-for-ph|access-date=March 21, 2016}}

{{main|PiliPinas Debates 2016|Harapan ng Bise}}

The Commission on Elections confirmed that they will organize three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate. This was the first time that the commission organized debates since the 1992 presidential election. The debates were dubbed as PiliPinas Debates 2016 ({{Translation|The Philippines Chooses}}).{{cite news|url=http://digitaledition.philstar.com/articles/2016-01-21/news/6-presidential-bets-confirm-attendance-to-comelec-debates/137235|title=6 presidential bets confirm attendance to Comelec debates|work=Philippine Star|date=January 21, 2016|access-date=February 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222101647/http://digitaledition.philstar.com/articles/2016-01-21/news/6-presidential-bets-confirm-attendance-to-comelec-debates/137235|archive-date=February 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}

A separate debate, Harapan ng Bise ({{Translation|Face-off of the Vice [Presidents]}}), was organized and hosted by ABS-CBN. Not all vice presidential candidates attended.{{cite news|last1=Bueza|first1=Michael|title=43 minutes of TV ads in 2-hour ABS-CBN VP debate|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/129845-tv-ads-abs-cbn-vice-presidential-debate|access-date=April 18, 2016|work=Rappler|date=April 18, 2016}}

{{Main|Opinion polling for the 2016 Philippine presidential election}}

Opinion polling in Philippines is conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS), Pulse Asia and other third-party pollsters.

{{#section:Opinion polling for the 2016 Philippine presidential election|Presidential surveys chart}}

{{#section:Opinion polling for the 2016 Philippine presidential election|Vice presidential surveys chart}}

File:Vote-rich provinces in the 2016 Philippine elections.png, this comprises more than half of the registered voters for this election. Candidates usually personally campaign in these locales in order to reduce costs.]]

While the campaign period as set by law started on February 9, 2016, candidates had earlier started campaigning as early as late 2015, as the courts have struck the ban on premature campaigning as unconstitutional.

The continuation of outgoing president Benigno Aquino III's policies is seen to be the main theme for this election. Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas promises the continuation of the "Daang Matuwid" ("straight path") anti-corruption drive by the last president, which is appealing among the elites. Roxas's base was mostly middle-class Filipinos. Vice President Jejomar Binay's policies is seen to be opposite of Aquino's, such as the former's opposition to the enactment of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, and on how to approach China concerning the territorial disputes in the South China Sea, while presenting himself as a man of the people, and fighting out allegations of corruption while serving as mayor of Makati, the country's financial hub. Senator Grace Poe's campaign is seen to be an alternative to Roxas and Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte; her image as untarnished by corruption is liked by the elite, while she sends messages that are pro-poor. Duterte is banking on a law and order platform, which includes the proposals concerning federalism in the Philippines. Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, who almost won the presidency in 1992, insists that she has recovered from cancer.{{cite news|last1=Domínguez|first1=Gabriel|title=Who are the Philippines' top presidential candidates?|url=http://www.dw.com/en/who-are-the-philippines-top-presidential-candidates/a-19035071|access-date=March 4, 2016|work=Deutsche Welle|date=February 9, 2016}}

Proclamation rallies were held by all five presidential tickets at the start of campaigning on February 9. The Jejomar Binay and Gregorio Honasan ticket started their campaign at a slum in Mandaluyong, to "be with the Filipino poor". Rodrigo Duterte and Alan Peter Cayetano started campaigning at Tondo, Manila. Roxas City, the hometown of Mar Roxas, was the host of the Roxas and Leni Robredo tandem's proclamation rally. Grace Poe and Francis Escudero had their proclamation rally at Plaza Miranda in Quiapo, Manila. Miriam Defensor Santiago held their proclamation rally at her running mate's Bongbong Marcos' hometown of Batac, Ilocos Norte. Antonio Trillanes kicked off his campaign at General Santos.{{cite news|last1=Viray|first1=Patricia Lourdes|title=National candidates kick off campaign season|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/02/09/1551306/national-candidates-kick-campaign-season|access-date=March 4, 2016|work=Philippine Star|date=February 9, 2016}}

On the first presidential debate since 1992 on February 21 in Cagayan de Oro hosted by GMA Network, the candidates commented that they were not given enough time to express their views.{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/roxas-rues-limited-time-allotted-in-presidential-debate/|title=Roxas rues limited time allotted in presidential debate|date=February 23, 2016|work=Manila Bulletin|last1=Recuenco|first1=Aaron|access-date=February 23, 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/make-debates-commercial-free-lawmaker-asks-comelec/|title=Make debates commercial-free, lawmaker asks Comelec|date=February 22, 2016|work=Manila Bulletin|last2=Aquino|first2=Leslie Ann|last3=Geducos|first3=Argyll Cyrus|last1=Rosario|first1=Ben|access-date=February 22, 2016}} The Binay campaign lamented that the question on political dynasties was asked on him at a round where supposedly issues about Mindanao were the topics.{{cite news|url=http://www.mb.com.ph/binay-camp-rues-inappropriate-question-in-debate/|title=Binay camp rues 'inappropriate question' in debate|date=February 22, 2016|work=Manila Bulletin|language=en, fil|last1=Quismorio|first1=Ellson|access-date=February 22, 2016}} Several weeks later, on March 8, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the commission to disqualify Poe, thereby allowing her to run.{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/124191-supreme-court-decision-grace-poe|title=SC allows Grace Poe to run for president|last=Tupaz|first=Voltaire|date=March 8, 2016|work=Rappler|access-date=March 8, 2016}}

In the Visayas leg of the presidential debate held in Cebu City hosted by TV5, the respective campaigns were generally more receptive of the conduct of the debate. The debate proper though was delayed due to a misunderstanding of the rules: Binay was informed by debate moderator Luchi Cruz-Valdez that bringing of notes was allowed, but the commission ruled it out when the Roxas camp objected to it.{{cite news|last1=Pasion|first1=Patty|title=Candidates more 'satisfied' with 2nd election debate|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/126557-candidates-more-satisfied-2nd-election-debate|access-date=June 2, 2016|work=Rappler.com|date=March 21, 2015}}

Candidates started gaining endorsements from local politicians when campaigning for local positions started just right before Easter. Poe got the endorsement of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada over Binay, who was Estrada's running mate in 2010.{{cite news|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/28/joseph-estrada-grace-poe-bongbong-marcos-endorsement.html|title=Estrada endorses Poe for president, Marcos for VP|last=Andolong|first=Ina|date=March 28, 2016|publisher=CNN Philippines|access-date=March 29, 2016|archive-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331072407/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/03/28/joseph-estrada-grace-poe-bongbong-marcos-endorsement.html|url-status=dead}} One Cebu abandoned their original support for Binay to Duterte, vowing to deliver one million votes.{{cite news|title=One Cebu backs Duterte, vows to deliver 1M vote difference|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/local-news/2016/04/03/one-cebu-backs-duterte-vows-deliver-1m-vote-difference-465783|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=Sun.Star Cebu|date=April 3, 2016}} Binay also lost the support of the Remullas of Cavite of which Cavite Governor Jonvic is his spokesperson, to Duterte.{{cite news|last1=Francisco|first1=Katerina|last2=Cepeda|first2=Mara|title=Duterte: Jonvic Remulla and I 'promised to work together'|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/131226-duterte-jonvic-remulla-work-together|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=Rappler.com|date=May 5, 2016}}

On an April 17 campaign rally, Duterte said on an Australian rape victim that "Was I mad because she was raped? Yes, that's one of the reasons. But she really was beautiful. The mayor should have been first."{{cite news|url=http://interaksyon.com/article/126544/duterte-on-1989-australian-rape-victim-napakaganda--dapat-ang-mayor-muna-ang-mauna|title=Duterte on 1989 Australian rape victim: 'Napakaganda. Dapat ang mayor muna ang mauna'|publisher=News5|date=April 17, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418193459/http://interaksyon.com/article/126544/duterte-on-1989-australian-rape-victim-napakaganda--dapat-ang-mayor-muna-ang-mauna|archive-date=April 18, 2016|url-status=dead}} This was met by condemnation both from his opponents,{{cite news|url=http://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/129802-grace-poe-mar-roxas-hit-duterte-rape-joke|title=Poe, Roxas, Binay hit Duterte: Rape is a serious crime, not a joke|work=Rappler|date=April 17, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2016}} and other sectors of society, including the Australian ambassador to Manila.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/philippines-rodrigo-duterte-condemned-for-comments-on-rape-of-australian-missionary-20160417-go8j7b.html |title= Philippines: Rodrigo Duterte condemned for comments on rape of Australian missionary|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=April 17, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2016}} Duterte apologized for the incident, blamed his "gutter language", but did not apologize for his remarks.{{cite news|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/779919/rivals-slam-duterte-for-distasteful-rape-joke |title= Rivals slam Duterte for 'distasteful' rape joke|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=April 17, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2016}}

The third leg of the presidential debate was held in Pangasinan on April 24. When asked about the ongoing South China Sea dispute, Duterte said he will abide the decision of the arbitral tribunal in the Philippines v. China case, and if tribunal rules in favor of the Philippines and China refuses to honor the decision, he will ride a jetski to the disputed islands to plant a Philippine flag.{{Cite web|last=Marcelo|first=Elizabeth|date=April 24, 2016|title=Duterte to plant flag on Scarborough; Miriam to bomb Chinese stealing fish|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/563867/news/nation/duterte-to-plant-flag-on-scarborough-miriam-to-bomb-chinese-stealing-fish/|url-status=live|access-date=August 17, 2021|website=GMA News Online|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226100917/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/563867/news/nation/duterte-to-plant-flag-on-scarborough-miriam-to-bomb-chinese-stealing-fish |archive-date=February 26, 2017 }}

On April 26, Antonio Trillanes claims that Duterte has a bank account worth ₱211 million that wasn't declared in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. On the same day, Duterte denied the existence of the bank accounts, which were supposedly in a Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) branch in Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig, and was jointly held with his daughter Sara.{{cite news|last1=Carvajal|first1=Nancy C.|title=Trillanes: Duterte didn't declare P211M in SALN|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/781831/trillanes-duterte-didnt-declare-p211m-in-saln|access-date=June 2, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=April 27, 2016}} A day later, Duterte acknowledged the existence of the bank account at the BPI branch in Julia Vargas, but it had "only thousands" in funds. Duterte later challenged Trillanes to execute an affidavit stating how he got the information, and he'd promise to open the account.{{cite news|last1=Reyes|first1=Mia|title='FABRICATION' | Duterte acknowledges BPI account, repudiates P211-M Trillanes expose|url=http://interaksyon.com/article/127053/fabrication--duterte-acknowledges-bpi-account-repudiates-p211-m-trillanes-expose|access-date=June 2, 2016|work=News5|date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519171323/http://interaksyon.com/article/127053/fabrication--duterte-acknowledges-bpi-account-repudiates-p211-m-trillanes-expose|archive-date=May 19, 2016|url-status=dead}} On May 2, Trillanes and Duterte's lawyer met at the BPI Julia Vargas branch. Duterte's lawyer brought with him a special power of attorney requesting BPI to certify the existence of Duterte's account.{{cite news|title=Trillanes, Duterte lawyer show up at BPI-Julia Vargas|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/02/16/trillanes-duterte-lawyer-show-up-at-bpi-julia-vargas|access-date=June 2, 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|date=May 2, 2016}} In the end, no bank records were released, as the bank asked for more time to accede to the request. Trillanes expressed disappointment, as the special power of attorney invoked on whether the bank account asked for the current balance of the account, not the transaction history that he wanted.{{cite news|title=BPI Julia Vargas face-off a dud: No records released|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/02/duterte-trillanes-bpi-julia-vargas-211-million.html|access-date=June 2, 2016|work=CNN Philippines|date=May 3, 2016|archive-date=May 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528234355/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/02/duterte-trillanes-bpi-julia-vargas-211-million.html|url-status=dead}}

A week before the election, an anti-Duterte advertisement began appearing on television; it was already on rotation in radio stations. Paid for by Trillanes, the commercial features children reacting to Duterte's controversial remarks. The video shows several children remarking Duterte's controversial remarks and acts, including his cursing of Pope Francis and the comments about the rape-slay on the Australian missionary.{{cite news|title=Anti Duterte TV Advertisement / Commercial|publisher=YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P46B4e6c_hs| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/P46B4e6c_hs| archive-date=October 30, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news|date=May 5, 2016|title=Anti-Duterte ad causes uproar online|work=ABS-CBN News|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/05/16/anti-duterte-ad-causes-uproar-online|access-date=May 7, 2016}} It was widely disapproved at social media.{{cite news|title=Anti-Duterte ad causes uproar online|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/05/16/anti-duterte-ad-causes-uproar-online|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=ABS-CBN News|date=May 5, 2016}} ABS-CBN defended their decision to air the ad, saying that "We are duty-bound to air a legitimate ad." A similar ad also aired on GMA Network. Alan Peter Cayetano said that the ad had been rejected by other TV networks, but was "blindly approved" by ABS-CBN's ethics committee.{{cite news|last1=Corrales|first1=Nestor|title=ABS-CBN on 'anti-Duterte' TVC: We are duty-bound to air legitimate ad |url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/783574/abs-cbn-on-anti-duterte-tvc-we-are-duty-bound-to-air-legitimate-ad|access-date=June 1, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 6, 2016}} He also accused President Benigno Aquino III and two other rivals such as Mar Roxas and Grace Poe and ABS-CBN of making the ad.{{cite news|title=SAKSI: Pag-ere ng kontrobersyal na anti-Duterte ad, pinigil ng korte|date=May 6, 2016 |publisher=GMA News|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIeKOTDL8t0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/NIeKOTDL8t0| archive-date=October 30, 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} A Taguig court later disallowed the commercial to be aired, saying that "These advertisements do manifestly oppose a candidate and thus the court cannot allow minor children to be used in such black propaganda."{{cite news|last1=Lema|first1=Karen|title=Philippine court halts rare TV attack ad showing kids against Duterte|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-election-court-idUSKCN0XX0SO|work=Reuters|date=May 6, 2016}}

A few days before the election, Roxas called for Poe to back out, in order to defeat Duterte. Poe rebuffed Roxas' offer, saying that she would never withdraw from the presidential race.{{cite news|last1=Gita|first1=Ruth Abbey|title=Roxas calls for a dialogue with Poe|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2016/05/07/roxas-calls-dialogue-poe-472068|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=Sun.Star Manila|date=May 6, 2016|archive-date=May 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507173947/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2016/05/07/roxas-calls-dialogue-poe-472068|url-status=dead}} Meanwhile, President Aquino also called on Poe, Binay and Santiago to unite against Duterte. A Binay spokesperson retorted that instead of the president calling for unity against a specific candidate, Aquino should've just insured of clean elections.{{cite news|title=EXCLUSIVE: President Aquino calls for united front against Duterte|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/06/president-aquino-roxas-poe-binay-santiago-alliance-against-duterte.html|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=CNN Philippines|date=May 7, 2016|archive-date=June 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160608205531/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/06/president-aquino-roxas-poe-binay-santiago-alliance-against-duterte.html|url-status=dead}}

A tradition of Philippine politics, the "miting de avance" is the final political rally before the election itself. For the Duterte campaign, the miting de avance was held at Rizal Park in Manila; however, his campaign pointed to the Liberal Party of sabotaging the rally, as backhoes dug up holes in the park. The administrators of the park countered that they were only removing the asphalt from the Burnham green of the park.{{cite news|last1=Ramirez|first1=Robertzon|title=Admin hit for alleged sabotage of Duterte's miting de avance|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/07/1580764/admin-hit-alleged-sabotage-dutertes-miting-de-avance|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=The Philippine Star|date=May 7, 2016}}

Two days before the election, all mitings de avance were held in Metro Manila. The Santiago campaign held their "youth supporters rally" at West Triangle, Quezon City. The Roxas campaign held theirs at the Quezon Memorial Circle in the same city, while the Binay campaign held it at the corner of Kalayaan Avenue and Lawton Avenue in Makati. Grace Poe held her miting de avance at Plaza Miranda in Manila. The Duterte campaign pushed through with their rally at Rizal Park.{{cite news|title=Last hurrah: Miting de Avance schedules for May 7|url=http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/07/Miting-de-avance-road-closure.html|access-date=June 1, 2016|work=CNN Philippines|date=May 7, 2016|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510100624/http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/05/07/Miting-de-avance-road-closure.html|url-status=dead}}

{{main|Congressional canvass for the 2016 Philippine presidential election}}

Congress canvassed the results in record time of three days. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Representative from Camarines Sur Leni Robredo were proclaimed president and vice president on May 30, in front of a joint session, at the Batasang Pambansa Complex. Duterte notably skipped his proclamation, as he has consistently skipped his prior proclamations.{{Cite web|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/nation/05/27/16/duterte-robredo-win-2016-polls/|title=Duterte, Robredo win 2016 polls|date=May 27, 2016|website=ABS-CBN News}}

File:2016 Philippine presidential election provincial results.png

All candidates except for Poe and Santiago carried their respective hometowns. Duterte carried the majority of Mindanao, the so-called "Mega Manila" (except Makati where Binay won) and the Cebuano-speaking provinces in the Visayas, except Negros Oriental. Roxas carried the Ilonggo-speaking provinces, the Waray speaking provinces, Negros Oriental, his running mate's province of Camarines Sur and neighboring Albay in Bicol, and Mimaropa. Poe carried most of the Ilocos Region, except Ilocos Norte, including her father's home province of Pangasinan. Binay carried his parents' home region of Cagayan Valley and his hometown of Makati, where he served as mayor for several decades. Santiago didn't win in any province.

{{Philippine presidential election, 2016}}

{{bar box

|title=Popular vote

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=600px

|barwidth=410px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Rodrigo Duterte|{{party color|Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan}}|39.01}}

{{bar percent|Mar Roxas|{{party color|Liberal Party (Philippines)}}|23.45}}

{{bar percent|Grace Poe|{{party color|Partido Galing at Puso}}|21.39}}

{{bar percent|Jejomar Binay|{{party color|United Nationalist Alliance}}|12.73}}

{{bar percent|Miriam Defensor Santiago|{{party color|People's Reform Party}}|3.42}}

}}

File:Provincial Breakdown of VP Race 2016.pngRobredo carried the Bicol Region, except for Sorsogon, Escudero's home province, Roxas' stronghold of Western Visayas and Negros, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Northern Mindanao, the entire Mimaropa region, majority of provinces in Eastern Visayas, majority of Caraga region, majority of Zamboanga region, Quezon province, Central Visayas less Cebu City, almost half of Soccsksargen, and President Aquino's home province of Tarlac. Marcos won the so-called "Solid North", the National Capital Region (except Taguig, where Cayetano won), his mother's home province of Leyte, and all provinces of Soccsksargen. Cayetano won in his hometown of Taguig, and in Duterte's home region in the Davao Region.File:2016 Philippine vice presidential election provincial results.png

Robredo's winning margin of 0.61% is the closest margin since Fernando Lopez's victory in the 1965 vice presidential election. Marcos subsequently protested the results, which was unanimously struck down by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on February 16, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Torres-Tupas |first1=Tetch |title=PET dismisses Marcos poll protest vs Robredo, stresses 'entire' case junked |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1396382/pet-dismisses-marcos-poll-protest-vs-vp-leni-source |website=INQUIRER.net |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |access-date=February 17, 2021 |language=en |date=February 16, 2021}}

{{Philippine vice presidential election, 2016}}

{{bar box

|title=Popular vote

|titlebar=#ddd

|width=600px

|barwidth=410px

|bars=

{{bar percent|Leni Robredo|{{party color|Liberal Party (Philippines)}}|35.11}}

{{bar percent|Bongbong Marcos|{{party color|People's Reform Party}}|34.47}}

{{bar percent|Alan Peter Cayetano|{{party color|Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan}}|14.38}}

{{bar percent|Francis Escudero|{{party color|Partido Galing at Puso}}|12.01}}

{{bar percent|Others|#808080|4.03}}

}}

On the evening of May 10, Leni Robredo took first place on the unofficial vote count led by the Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting (PPCRV), and Bongbong Marcos suspected that the Liberal Party manipulated the vice presidential votes in favor of Robredo.{{cite news|title=Robredo overtakes Marcos|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/784964/robredo-overtakes-marcos|access-date=May 12, 2016|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|date=May 10, 2016}} Marcos soon ordered the Commission on Elections to stop the unofficial count by the PPCRV, and he stated that no one has been aware that his lead on the unofficial vote count fell down.{{cite news|last1=Echeminada|first1=Perseus|title=Bongbong unfazed, seeks halt to unofficial count|url=http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2016/05/11/1582078/bongbong-unfazed-seeks-halt-unofficial-count|access-date=May 12, 2016|work=The Philippine Star|publisher=Philstar|date=May 11, 2016}}

Marcos then filed an election protest to the Presidential Electoral Tribunal on June 29, 2016, the eve of the oath-taking of the newly elected officials. Marcos wanted a recount in 27 provinces and cities, in 36,000 precincts. Marcos sought for the explanation of supposed 3 million undervotes which were allegedly "unaccounted for", which the Robredo camp said that is "normal".{{cite news|title=Marcos protests Robredo victory on eve of oath-taking|url=https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/138006-bongbong-marcos-election-protest-leni-robredo-victory|access-date=April 4, 2018|work=Rappler|date=June 29, 2016|language=en}} Robredo filed a counter-protest, which the tribunal rejected in September 2017. The tribunal also denied Marcos' first cause of action to nullify the result of the vice presidential election, because even if it is nullified, the tribunal ruled that it doesn't mean that he won.{{cite news|last1=Canlas|first1=Jomar|title=PET junks Robredo bid to dismiss poll protest - The Manila Times Online|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/pet-junks-robredo-bid-dismiss-poll-protest/348935/|access-date=April 4, 2018|work=www.manilatimes.net|date=September 6, 2017}}

On April 2, 2018, the manual recount of votes cast in Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental, the results of the election which were contested by former senator Bongbong Marcos, started.{{Cite web|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/02/1801980/recount-vice-president-polls-starts-today#sjwswVuCsALI7glm.99|title=Recount in vice president polls starts today {{!}} Philstar.com|website=philstar.com|access-date=April 2, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/vp-poll-recount-starts/390003/|title=VP poll recount starts - The Manila Times Online|website=www.manilatimes.net|date=April 2, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=April 2, 2018}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2018/04/02/supreme-court-begins-poll-recount-vice-president-596364|title=Supreme Court begins poll recount for vice president|last=Calayag|first=Keith A.|date=April 2, 2018|work=SunStar|access-date=April 2, 2018|language=en}} The recount was originally scheduled for February but was postponed to March 19, and then moved again to April 2. The first day was plagued with issues of some ballots from Bato, Camarines Sur being drenched wet causing these to be intelligible, and missing audit cards. The Robredo camp said that these may have been damaged from previous floods and typhoons, and that the tribunal can go over to the ballot images, and reprint the audit logs from the records of the commission, while Marcos' lawyers said that it was recently doused over.{{cite news|last1=Punay|first1=Edu|title=Wet ballots, missing forms raised in recount {{!}} Philstar.com|url=https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/04/03/1802282/wet-ballots-missing-forms-raised-recount|access-date=April 4, 2018|work=philstar.com|date=April 3, 2018}} Caguioa along with Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio were the only dissenters in a new resolution by the court ordering the parties to comment on the results of a recount of votes from Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

In October 2019, a resolution by the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal confirmed that Vice President Leni Robredo's lead over former senator Bongbong Marcos increased by 15,000 votes after it conducted a recount in three provinces chosen by Marcos.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/10/19/19/pet-robredo-lead-over-marcos-went-up-by-15000-votes|title=PET: Robredo lead over Marcos went up by 15,000 votes|date=October 19, 2019|website=ABS-CBN}} SC Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa questioned the PET why it has not dismissed former senator Bongbong Marcos's election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo despite its "clear and unmistakable lack of basis."{{Cite web|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/712248/caguioa-to-pet-why-not-dismiss-protest-vs-robredo-after-marcos-failed-to-prove-case/story/|title=Caguioa to PET: Why not dismiss protest vs. Robredo after Marcos failed to prove case?|date=October 18, 2019|website=GMA Network News}}

"Undoubtedly, protestant failed to make out his case. Why not apply Rule 65 now?" Caguioa said in a 7-page dissenting opinion. Rule 65 of the 2010 PET Rules allows a Protestant to choose not more than three provinces that "best exemplify" the fraud that he alleges happened in an election. Once ballots there are examined, the tribunal may dismiss the case if it is convinced that the Protestant will "most probably fail to make out his case."

Marcos filed an inhibition (recusal) plea earlier against Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa. However, the Supreme Court junked the plea, issuing a "stern warning" against the former senator that any unfounded and inappropriate accusation will be dealt with in the future with more severity.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/03/18/sc-junks-marcos-inhibition-plea-vs-magistrate-in-poll-protest|title=SC junks Marcos inhibition plea vs magistrate in poll protest|last=|first=|website=ABS-CBN News|access-date=January 7, 2019}}

The Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal also earlier upheld the 25-percent shading threshold, a main contention of Marcos's camp in their electoral protest.{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/09/28/18/impossible-for-marcos-to-get-sufficient-votes-after-pet-ruling-robredo-lawyer|title=Impossible for Marcos to get 'sufficient' votes after PET ruling: Robredo lawyer|last=|first=|website=ABS-CBN News|date=September 28, 2018|access-date=January 7, 2019}}

On February 16, 2021, the PET unanimously dismissed Bongbong Marcos' electoral protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.{{Cite news |date=February 16, 2021 |title=Marcos heir loses bid to overturn Philippine VP election loss |language=en |work=The South China Morning Post |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3121926/ferdinand-bongbong-marcos-loses-bid-overturn-philippines |access-date=February 16, 2021}}{{Cite news |date=February 16, 2021 |title=Supreme Court unanimously junks Marcos' VP poll protest vs Robredo |language=en |work=CNN Philippines |url=https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/16/Supreme-Court-Bongbong-Marcos-Leni-Robredo-vice-president-poll-protest.html |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216041527/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/16/Supreme-Court-Bongbong-Marcos-Leni-Robredo-vice-president-poll-protest.html |url-status=dead }} Media reports cited the reasons for the dismissal as: "failure to allege specific acts showing electoral fraud"; "allegations (which) were bare, laden with generic & repetitious allegations, no critical information as to time, place and manner of irregularities,” and "the absence of substantial recovery of votes in the 3 pilot provinces Marcos had chosen where Robredo actually gained additional votes with 1,510,718 against Marcos’ 204,512."{{Cite news |last=Navallo |first=Mike |date=February 16, 2021 |title=SC junks Bongbong Marcos' poll protest vs Vice President Robredo |language=en |work=ABS CBN News and Public Affairs |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/16/21/sc-junks-bongbong-marcos-poll-protest-vs-vice-president-robredo-source |access-date=February 16, 2021}}{{Cite news |last=Torres-Tupas |first=Tetch |date=February 16, 2021 |title=PET dismisses Marcos poll protest vs Robredo, stresses 'entire' case junked |language=en |newspaper=The Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1396382/pet-dismisses-marcos-poll-protest-vs-vp-leni-source |url-status=live |access-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216064038/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1396382/pet-dismisses-marcos-poll-protest-vs-vp-leni-source |archive-date=February 16, 2021}}

File:2016 NLE Turnout.png

Each province and city that is independent of a province and is a legislative district by itself sends its certificates of canvass to Congress. Each diplomatic post, local absentee voters and detainee voters also send their respective certificates of canvass. From there, the results are tallied in a joint session of Congress.

Notably, most candidates won in their home regions, provinces or cities. Duterte (Davao Region), Roxas (Western Visayas), Binay (Makati) Robredo (Camarines Sur), Marcos (Ilocos Region), Cayetano (Taguig) and Escudero (Sorsogon) won in their respective strongholds. Roxas, Santiago, Cayetano and Robredo were also helped by votes from their respective running mates' strongholds (Camarines Sur, Ilocos Region, Davao Region and Western Visayas, respectively). Binay, Poe, Duterte and Marcos were also helped from votes from which their families originated (Cagayan Valley, Pangasinan, Cebu and Leyte, respectively). Duterte was particularly helped by his big winning margins in Mindanao, where he polled more than 60% of the vote in some places.

For the presidential election, the following candidates won in these places:

• Duterte: Most of Mindanao, Central Visayas, Leyte and Biliran, Metro Manila, Calabarzon (except Quezon), Bataan, Baguio, Bulacan, Ilocos Norte and Pampanga
• Roxas, Western Visayas, Negros Island Region, Samar Island, Mimaropa (except Oriental Mindoro and Marinduque), Albay, Camarines Sur, Agusan del Sur, Masbate, Camiguin, Misamis Occidental, Batanes, Tarlac, and Zamboanga del Norte
• Poe: Ilocos Region (except Ilocos Norte), Aurora, Camarines Norte, Ifugao, Mountain Province, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan, Quezon, Zamboanga del Sur, Zambales, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Sorsogon
• Binay: Cagayan Valley (except Batanes and Nueva Vizcaya), Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, Makati
• Santiago: Although Santiago didn't win a province, her largest shares of the vote came from Baguio, Benguet, Ilocos Norte and Iloilo.

For the vice presidential election, the following candidates won in these places:

• Robredo, Bicol Region (except Sorsogon), Visayas (except Cebu City, Mandaue, Biliran and Leyte), Batangas, Batanes, Quezon, Tarlac, Northern Mindanao (except Cagayan de Oro and Iligan). Zamboanga Peninsula (except Zamboanga del Sur), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (except Sulu). Caraga (except for Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Sur)
• Marcos: The "Solid North" part of Luzon (except Batanes), Central Luzon (except Tarlac), Metro Manila (except Taguig), Cagayan de Oro, Soccsksargen, Dinagat Islands, Sulu, Zamboanga del Sur, and Leyte.
• Cayetano: Davao Region, Cebu City, Mandaue, Butuan, Iligan, Taguig, and Surigao del Sur
• Escudero: Sorsogon

Negros Oriental's winning streak of being the presidential bellwether that started in 1969 ended in this election, when Roxas won there, but Duterte won the national count. It was replaced by Basilan, which now has the longest winning streak, starting in 1981.

{{col-start}}{{col-2}}

Margin of victory is less than 5% for the presidential election:

• Albay: 0.03% (Roxas win)
• Oriental Mindoro: 0.06% (Poe win)
• Zamboanga del Norte: 0.10% (Roxas win)
• Ifugao: 0.20% (Poe win)
• Batangas: 0.21% (Duterte win)
• Bataan: 0.34% (Duterte win)
• Nueva Vizcaya: 0.88% (Poe win)
• Ilocos Sur: 1.05% (Poe win)
• La Union: 1.27% (Poe win)
• Navotas: 1.46% (Duterte win)
• Tarlac: 1.50% (Roxas win)
• Zamboanga del Sur: 2.15% (Poe win)
• Quirino: 2.52% (Binay win)
• Eastern Samar: 3.46% (Roxas win)
• Samar: 3.68% (Roxas win)
• Camarines Sur: 3.7% (Roxas win)
• Mountain Province: 4.86% (Poe win)

Margin of victory is less than 5% for the vice presidential election:

• Surigao del Sur: 0.01% (Cayetano wins by 16 votes)
• Davao Occidental: 0.45% (Cayetano win)
• Lanao del Norte: 0.52% (Robredo win)
• Cebu City: 1.05% (Cayetano win)
• Samar: 1.24% (Robredo win)
• Cagayan de Oro: 1.38% (Marcos win)
• Marikina: 1.68% (Marcos win)
• Parañaque: 2.26% (Marcos win)
• Zamboanga City: 2.39% (Robredo win)
• South Cotabato: 2.51% (Marcos win)
• Cotabato: 2.95% (Marcos win)
• Laguna: 4.07% (Marcos win)
• Tarlac: 4.99% (Robredo win)

{{col-2}}

Margin of victory is more than 50% for the presidential election:

• Davao City: 95.18% (Duterte wins in his home city)
• Davao del Norte: 89.35% (Duterte win)
• Davao del Sur: 87.28% (Duterte win)
• Davao Occidental: 80.73% (Duterte win)
• Davao Oriental: 73.86% (Duterte win)
• Lanao del Sur: 68.31% (Duterte win)
• Capiz: 66.97% (Roxas wins in his home province)
• Sulu: 66.45% (Duterte win)
• Cotabato: 62.26% (Duterte win)
• Compostela Valley: 59.73% (Duterte win)
• Absentee voters: 59.59% (Duterte win)
• Iligan: 57.56% (Duterte win)
• Sarangani: 54.64% (Duterte win)
• Bukidnon: 53.93% (Duterte win)
• Cagayan de Oro: 52.70% (Duterte win)
• Camiguin: 50.73% (Roxas win)

Margin of victory is more than 50% for the vice presidential election:

• Ilocos Norte: 95.62% (Marcos wins in his home province)
• Ilocos Sur: 88.89% (Marcos win)
• Abra: 84.92% (Marcos win)
• La Union: 84.57% (Marcos win)
• Camarines Sur: 80.26% (Robredo wins in her home province)
• Apayao: 79.45% (Marcos win)
• Camiguin: 69.68% (Robredo win)
• Capiz: 69.68% (Robredo win)
• Cagayan: 67.60% (Marcos win)
• Isabela: 61.96% (Marcos win)
• Guimaras: 58.57% (Robredo win)
• Iloilo: 57.25% (Robredo win)
• Kalinga: 56.63% (Marcos win)
• Davao City: 52.39% (Cayetano win)
• Nueva Vizcaya: 51.20% (Marcos win)

{{col-end}}

Prior to the canvassing by Congress, other groups such as the media and non-governmental organizations may issue their own separate tallies.

These were the results of the Social Weather Stations' exit poll:{{cite news|title=SWS EXIT POLL {{!}} More of the rich and educated say they voted for Duterte|url=http://interaksyon.com/article/127578/sws-exit-poll-data--more-of-the-rich-and-educated-say-they-voted-for-duterte|access-date=March 30, 2017|work=InterAksyon.com|date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410023534/http://interaksyon.com/article/127578/sws-exit-poll-data--more-of-the-rich-and-educated-say-they-voted-for-duterte|archive-date=April 10, 2017|url-status=dead}}

According to Mahar Mangahas, the president of SWS, voters who belonged to a higher social class, was more educated, younger, Muslim, a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo, from urban areas, and men tended to support Duterte. Duterte had less support from Catholics, from rural voters, and from women.{{cite web|last1=Mangahas|first1=Mahar|title=Revelations of the TV5-SWS Exit Poll {{!}} Foundation for Economic Freedom|url=http://www.fef.org.ph/mahar-mangahas/revelations-of-the-tv5-sws-exit-poll/|website=www.fef.org.ph|access-date=March 30, 2017}} De La Salle University political science professor Julio Teehankee described it as the middle class' emergence of a "counter-elite challenging the old elite," with Duterte voters being seen as "who are taxed the most and financing Daang Matuwid. They are working hard for their families and the country and yet they are the ones who suffer from lack of public service, land and air traffic. Breakdown of peace and order corruption, laglag-bala. The poor have their conditional cash transfer fund. The rich have their PPPs."{{cite news|title=More millennials voted for Duterte, exit poll shows|url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/halalan2016/focus/05/14/16/more-millennials-voted-for-duterte-exit-poll-shows|access-date=March 30, 2017|work=ABS-CBN News|date=May 14, 2016}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• [http://www.comelec.gov.ph/ Commission on Elections]

{{2016 Philippine elections}}

{{Philippine presidential elections}}

{{Philippine elections}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Presidential Election, Philippines 2016}}

Category:2016 elections in the Philippines

Category:May 2016 in the Philippines

2016