1998 Philippine House of Representatives elections

Elections for the House of Representatives of the Philippines were held on May 11, 1998. Held on the same day as the presidential election, the party of the incumbent president, Fidel V. Ramos' Lakas–NUCD–UMDP (Lakas), won majority of the seats in the House of Representatives. For the first time since the People Power Revolution, a party won majority of the seats in the House; Lakas had a seat over the majority. This is also the first Philippine elections that included the party-list system.

However, with Joseph Estrada of the opposition Laban ng Makabayang Masang Pilipino (LAMMP; an electoral alliance between the Partido ng Masang Pilipino (PMP), the NPC and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP)) winning the presidential election, the majority of the elected Lakas congressmen switched sides to LAMMP. This led to Manuel Villar, Jr. (formerly of Lakas but became a LAMMP member prior to the election) on being elected as the Speaker of the House.

The elected representatives served in the 11th Congress from 1998 to 2001.

Electoral system

The House of Representatives shall have not more than 250 members, unless otherwise fixed by law, of which 20% shall be elected via the party-list system, while the rest are elected via congressional districts. This is the first time that there shall be a party-list election, after the passage of the Party-List System Act.

In this election, there are 206 seats voted via first-past-the-post in single-member districts. Each province, and a city with a population of 250,000, is guaranteed a seat, with more populous provinces and cities divided into two or more districts.

Congress has the power of redistricting three years after each census.

As there are 206 congressional districts, there shall be 51 seats available under the party-list system. According to the Party-List System Act, party is initially guaranteed a seat for every 2% of the vote, for up to three maximum seats.

Redistricting

Reapportioning (redistricting) the number of seats is either via national reapportionment three years after the release of every census, or via piecemeal redistricting for every province or city. National reapportionment has not happened since the 1987 constitution took effect, and aside from piecemeal redistricting, the apportionment was based on the ordinance from the constitution, which was in turn based from the 1980 census.

Three new districts were created, with one from Makati, a new district from the division of Kalinga-Apayao, which became Apayao and Kalinga, and a new district from the division of Las Piñas–Muntinlupa district.

Changes from the outgoing Congress

• Division of Makati's at-large district to two districts
• Makati attains cityhood, and its western barangays becomes the 1st district.
• The eastern barangays becomes the 2nd district.
• Enacted into law as Republic Act No. 7854.
• Approved in a plebiscite on February 4, 1995.
• Division of Kalinga-Apayao and its at-large district to Apayao and Kalinga provinces
• Apayao becomes a province and its own at-large district.
• Kalinga becomes a province and its own at-large district.
• Enacted into law as Republic Act No. 7878.
• Approved in a plebiscite on May 8, 1995.
• Division of Las Piñas–Muntinlupa's at-large district to two districts
• Muntinlupa attains cityhood and becomes its own at-large district.
• Las Piñas becomes its own at-large district.
• Enacted into law as Republic Act No. 7928.
• Approved in a plebiscite on May 8, 1995.

Retiring and term-limited incumbents

Retiring incumbents

1. Abra: Jeremias Zapata (Lakas)
2. Agusan del Sur: Ceferino Paredes Jr. (Lakas), ran for Governor of Agusan del Sur
3. Basilan: Candu Muarip (Lakas), ran for Governor of Basilan
4. Cagayan de Oro: Erasmo Damasing (PDP–Laban)
5. Camarines Norte: Emmanuel Pimentel (NPC), ran for Governor of Camarines Norte
6. Cavite–3rd: Telesforo Unas (Lakas)
7. Cebu–3rd: John Henry Osmeña (NPC), ran for the Senate
8. Cebu–6th: Nerissa Soon-Ruiz (Lakas)
9. Davao City–1st: Prospero Nograles (Lakas), ran for Mayor of Davao City
10. Davao del Sur–2nd: Benjamin Bautista Sr. (Lakas)
11. Laguna–1st: Nereo Joaquin (LAMMP)
12. Misamis Occidental–2nd: Herminia Ramiro (Lakas)
13. Occidental Mindoro: Jose Villarosa (Lakas)
14. Pasay: Jovito Claudio (Lakas), ran for Mayor of Pasay

Term-limited incumbents

1. Agusan del Norte–1st: Charito Plaza (Liberal), ran for the Senate
2. Albay–1st: Edcel Lagman (LAMMP), ran for the Senate
3. Albay–2nd: Carlos R. Imperial (Lakas)
4. Antique: Exequiel Javier (Lakas), ran for Governor of Antique
5. Bacolod: Romeo Guanzon (Lakas)
6. Bataan–1st: Felicito Payumo (Liberal)
7. Batangas–2nd: Hernando Perez (Lakas), ran for the Senate
8. Batangas–3rd: Milagros Trinidad (Lakas)
9. Bohol–1st: Venice Agana (Lakas)
10. Bohol–3rd: Isidro Zarraga (Lakas)
11. Bukidnon–1st: Socorro Acosta (Liberal)
12. Bukidnon–3rd: Jose Maria Zubiri Jr. (Lakas)
13. Camarines Sur–1st: Rolando Andaya (Lakas), ran for the Senate
14. Camarines Sur–4th: Ciriaco Alfelor (Lakas), ran for Governor of Camarines Sur
15. Camiguin: Pedro Romualdo (Lakas), ran for Governor of Camiguin
16. Cavite–2nd: Renato Dragon (LAMMP), ran for Governor of Cavite
17. Cebu–2nd: Crisologo Abines (PROMDI)
18. Cebu–4th: Celestino Martinez Jr. (PROMDI)
19. Cebu–5th: Ramon Durano III (Lakas)
20. Cebu City–1st: Raul del Mar (PROMDI)
21. Cebu City–2nd: Antonio Cuenco (PROMDI)
22. Cotabato–2nd: Gregorio Andolana (Lakas), ran for Governor of Cotabato
23. Davao del Norte–2nd: Baltazar Sator (Lakas)
24. Davao del Norte–3rd: Rodolfo del Rosario (Lakas), district dissolved into Davao del Norte–2nd
25. Davao Oriental–2nd: Thelma Almario (Lakas)
26. Eastern Samar: Jose Ramirez (Lakas), ran for Governor of Eastern Samar
27. Ilocos Norte–1st: Roque Ablan Jr. (Lakas), ran for Governor of Ilocos Norte
28. Ilocos Sur–2nd: Eric Singson (Lakas), ran for Governor of Ilocos Sur
29. Iloilo–1st: Oscar Garin (Lakas)
30. Iloilo–2nd: Alberto Lopez (Lakas)
31. Iloilo–3rd: Licurgo Tirador (Lakas)
32. Iloilo–5th: Niel Tupas Sr. (Lakas)
33. Isabela–1st: Rodolfo Albano Jr. (Lakas)
34. Isabela–3rd: Santiago Respicio (Lakas)
35. Isabela–4th: Antonio Abaya (NPC)
36. La Union–1st: Victor Ortega (Lakas)
37. La Union–2nd: Jose Aspiras (LAMMP), ran for Governor of La Union
38. Laguna–3rd: Florante Aquino (Lakas), ran for Governor of Laguna
39. Lanao del Norte–1st: Mariano Badelles (Lakas)
40. Leyte–3rd: Alberto Veloso (Lakas), ran for Governor of Leyte
41. Leyte–4th: Carmelo Locsin (Lakas)
42. Leyte–5th: Eriberto Loreto (Lakas)
43. Malabon–Navotas: Tessie Aquino-Oreta (LAMMP), ran for the Senate
44. Manila–1st: Martin Isidro (NPC), ran for Vice Mayor of Manila
45. Manila–2nd: Jaime Lopez (Lakas), ran for Mayor of Manila
46. Manila–3rd: Leonardo Fugoso (Liberal)
47. Manila–4th: Ramon Bagatsing Jr. (LAMMP), ran for the Senate
48. Manila–5th: Amado Bagatsing (LAMMP), ran for Mayor of Manila
49. Marinduque: Carmencita Reyes (Lakas), ran for Governor of Marinduque
50. Masbate–2nd: Luz Cleta Bakunawa (LAMMP), ran for Governor of Masbate
51. Misamis Oriental–2nd: Victorico Chaves (Lakas)
52. Mountain Province: Victor Dominguez (Lakas)
53. Negros Occidental–3rd: Jose Carlos Lacson (Lakas)
54. Negros Occidental–4th: Edward Matti (NPC)
55. Negros Occidental–5th: Mariano Yulo (Lakas), ran for Governor of Negros Occidental
56. Negros Oriental–1st: Jerome Paras (Lakas), ran for Governor of Negros Oriental
57. Negros Oriental–2nd: Miguel Romero (Lakas)
58. Negros Oriental–3rd: Margarito Teves (Lakas)
59. Northern Samar–1st: Raul Daza (Liberal), ran for the Senate
60. Oriental Mindoro–2nd: Jesus Punzalan (Lakas), ran for Governor of Oriental Mindoro
61. Pampanga–1st: Carmelo Lazatin Sr. (Lakas), ran for Mayor of Angeles City
62. Pampanga–4th: Emigdio Bondoc (Lakas)
63. Pangasinan–4th: Jose de Venecia Jr. (Lakas), ran for President of the Philippines
64. Pasig: Rufino Javier (NPC)
65. Quezon–1st: Wilfrido Enverga (LAMMP), ran for Governor of Quezon
66. Quirino: Junie Cua (Lakas)
67. Rizal–2nd: Emigdio Tanjuatco Jr. (Lakas)
68. San Juan: Ronaldo Zamora (LAMMP)
69. Sarangani: James Chiongbian (Lakas)
70. Siquijor: Orlando Fua (Lakas)
71. Sorsogon–1st: Salvador Escudero (Lakas)
72. Sorsogon–2nd: Bonifacio Gillego (Lakas)
73. Surigao del Sur–1st: Mario Ty (Lakas)
74. Taguig–Pateros: Dante Tiñga (Lakas), ran for Mayor of Taguig
75. Tarlac–1st: Peping Cojuangco (Kampi)
76. Tarlac–2nd: Jose Yap (Lakas), ran for Governor of Tarlac
77. Tarlac–3rd: Herminio Aquino (Liberal), ran for Vice Governor of Tarlac
78. Valenzuela: Antonio Serapio (NPC), ran for Mayor of Valenzuela
79. Zamboanga City: Maria Clara Lobregat (LAMMP), ran for Mayor of Zamboanga City
80. Zamboanga del Norte–3rd: Angel Carloto (Lakas)
81. Zamboanga del Sur–2nd: Antonio Cerilles (NPC)

Vacancies

1. Bulacan–1st: Teodulo Natividad (Lakas) died on January 9, 1997.
2. Guimaras: Catalino Nava (Lakas) died on December 3, 1995.
3. Laguna–4th: Magdaleno Palacol (Lakas) died on August 21, 1997.
4. Makati's 2nd: Butz Aquino (LDP) received the most number of votes in the 1995 election, but was disqualified by the Commission on Elections on June 2, 1995.

Results

District elections

Summary by district

Party-list election

There were 52 seats for sectoral representatives that were contested. Each party has to get 2% of the national vote to win one seat; they would win an additional seat for every 2% of the vote, up to the maximum three seats. Only 14 party-list representatives were elected under this rule, leaving 38 unfilled seats. Eventually, the "2–4–6%" rule was ruled as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on October 6, 2000 on the case Veterans Federation Party, et. al. vs. COMELEC. Despite this ruling, no additional seats were awarded to any party-lists.

Defeated incumbents

1. Agusan del Norte–2nd: Eduardo Rama Sr. (Lakas) lost to Roan Libarios (LAMMP)
2. Albay–3rd: Romeo Salalima (Lakas) lost to Joey Salceda (LAMMP)
3. Cagayan–3rd: Manuel Mamba (Lakas) lost to Rodolfo Aguinaldo (Lakas)
4. Caloocan–1st: Bobby Guanzon (Lakas) lost to Recom Echiverri (Lakas)
5. Camarines Sur–2nd: Leopoldo San Buenaventura (Lakas) lost to Jaime Jacob (Aksyon)
6. Davao del Sur–1st: Alejandro Almendras Jr. (Lakas) lost to Douglas Cagas (Reporma)
7. Ilocos Norte–2nd: Simeon Valdez (Lakas) lost to Imee Marcos (KBL)
8. Ilocos Sur–1st: Mariano Tajon (Lakas) lost to Salacnib Baterina (LAMMP)
9. Lanao del Sur–2nd: Pangalian Balindong (Lakas) lost to Benasing Macarambon Jr. (Ompia)
10. Misamis Oriental–1st: Homobono Cesar (Lakas) lost to Oscar Moreno (Lakas)
11. Northern Samar–2nd: Wilmar Lucero (Liberal) lost to Romualdo Vicencio (Lakas)
12. Nueva Ecija–1st: Renato Diaz (Lakas) lost to Josefina Joson (LAMMP)
13. Nueva Ecija–2nd: Eleuterio Violago (Lakas) lost to Simeon Garcia Jr. (LAMMP)
14. Pangasinan–2nd: Antonio Bengson III (Lakas) lost to Teodoro Cruz (LAMMP)
15. Pangasinan–3rd: Eric Galo Acuña (Lakas) lost to Generoso Tulagan (LAMMP)
16. Samar–2nd: Catalino Figueroa (Lakas) lost to Antonio Nachura (Liberal)
17. Southern Leyte: Roger Mercado (Lakas) lost to Aniceto Saludo Jr. (LAMMP)
18. Sulu–1st: Bensaudi Tulawie (Lakas) lost to Hussin Ututalum Amin (Lakas)
19. Zamboanga del Norte–2nd: Cresente Llorente Jr. (Lakas) lost to Roseller Barinaga (LAMMP)
20. Zamboanga del Sur–3rd: Belma Cabilao (Lakas) lost to George T. Hofer (LAMMP)

See also

• 11th Congress of the Philippines

References

Bibliography