UniTeam
Political party alliance in the Philippines
UniTeam was an electoral alliance in the Philippines formed to support the candidacies of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte in the 2022 presidential and vice-presidential elections and their allies in the 2022 Philippine general election .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] The alliance was formalized on November 29, 2021, with Senator Imee Marcos coining the name UniTeam.[ 9]
UniTeam as an electoral alliance was dissolved shortly after the landslide wins of both candidates in the 2022 national elections. The term "UniTeam" continued to be used to refer to the relationship between the president and vice-president, until relations broke down between the two after Duterte's resignation from the Marcos cabinet in 2024.[ 10]
Coalition members
The alliance consists of four political parties:[ 5]
In addition, the alliance's senatorial slate features guest candidates from the Nacionalista Party , Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), PDP–Laban , and People's Reform Party (PRP). Except for the NPC, all of the aforementioned parties are allied with Marcos and Duterte.[ 18]
Presidential bid
Senatorial slate
UniTeam Slate during an election campaign in Mandaluyong on February 13, 2022
Marcos and Duterte have endorsed the following candidates for the 2022 Philippine Senate election , thus who are part of their "senatorial slate":[ 19] [ 20] [ 21]
Candidate name and party
Position
Votes
Ranking
Elected
Herbert Bautista NPC
Former mayor of Quezon City (2010–2019)
13,104,710
14th
No
Jinggoy Estrada PMP
Former senator (2004–2016)
15,108,625
12th
Yes
Larry Gadon KBL
Lawyer
9,691,607
20th
No
Win Gatchalian NPC
Incumbent senator
20,602,655
4th
Yes
Gregorio Honasan Independent[ a]
Former Secretary of Information and Communications Technology (2019–2021)
10,643,491
18th
No
Loren Legarda NPC[ a]
Member of the House of Representatives from Antique's at-large congressional district
24,264,969
2nd
Yes
Rodante Marcoleta PDP–Laban (withdrew[ 22] )
Member of the House of Representatives from 1–SAGIP Party List
3,591,899 (stray votes [ 22] )
—[ b]
No
Robin Padilla PDP–Laban
Actor
26,612,434
1st
Yes
Harry Roque PRP
Former presidential spokesperson (2017–2018, 2020–2021)
11,246,206
17th
No
Gilbert Teodoro PRP
Former Secretary of National Defense (2007–2009)
12,788,479
15th
No
Mark Villar Nacionalista
Former Secretary of Public Works and Highways (2016–2021)
19,475,592
6th
Yes
Migz Zubiri Independent
Incumbent senator
18,734,336
8th
Yes
^ a b Guest candidate
^ Rodante Marcoleta withdrew after the ballots have been printed.
Result by island group
Luzon
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Rank
Top 12
Loren Legarda
NPC
14,409,131
46.60%
1
Yes
Robin Padilla
PDP-Laban
14,182,785
45.87%
2
Yes
Win Gatchalian
NPC
12,419,076
40.17%
5
Yes
Mark Villar
Nacionalista
10,937,117
35.37%
7
Yes
Migz Zubiri
Independent
9,751,779
31.54%
10
Yes
Jinggoy Estrada
PMP
8,515,488
27.54%
12
Yes
Herbert Bautista
NPC
7,947,384
25.70%
14
No
Gilbert Teodoro
PRP
6,737,566
21.79%
17
No
Gregorio Honasan
Independent
6,452,633
20.87%
18
No
Larry Gadon
KBL
6,067,028
19.62%
19
No
Harry Roque
PRP
5,852,430
18.93%
21
No
Turnout
30,917,665
100.00%
Visayas
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Rank
Top 12
Loren Legarda
NPC
4,639,491
40.20%
2
Yes
Robin Padilla
PDP-Laban
4,608,102
39.92%
3
Yes
Migz Zubiri
Independent
3,805,233
32.97%
5
Yes
Win Gatchalian
NPC
3,781,484
32.76%
6
Yes
Mark Villar
Nacionalista
3,688,636
31.96%
7
Yes
Gilbert Teodoro
PRP
2,594,726
22.48%
12
Yes
Jinggoy Estrada
PMP
2,587,706
22.42%
13
No
Herbert Bautista
NPC
2,244,043
19.44%
15
No
Harry Roque
PRP
2,044,282
17.71%
16
No
Gregorio Honasan
Independent
1,821,562
15.78%
18
No
Larry Gadon
KBL
1,441,629
12.49%
22
No
Turnout
11,542,445
100.00%
Mindanao
Candidate
Party
Votes
%
Rank
Top 12
Robin Padilla
PDP-Laban
7,753,052
60.12%
1
Yes
Migz Zubiri
Independent
5,059,712
39.23%
2
Yes
Loren Legarda
NPC
4,889,046
37.91%
3
Yes
Mark Villar
Nacionalista
4,542,226
35.22%
4
Yes
Win Gatchalian
NPC
4,222,455
32.74%
7
Yes
Jinggoy Estrada
PMP
3,853,669
29.88%
8
Yes
Gilbert Teodoro
PRP
3,174,451
24.61%
11
Yes
Harry Roque
PRP
3,044,968
23.61%
13
No
Herbert Bautista
NPC
2,712,235
21.03%
15
No
Gregorio Honasan
Independent
2,160,484
16.75%
16
No
Larry Gadon
KBL
1,859,320
14.42%
19
No
Turnout
12,896,983
100.00%
Aftermath
It was clarified that the UniTeam was only made for the purpose of the 2022 election,[ 23] and no formal meeting has been held among its members as an alliance since then.[ 24]
UniTeam's Lakas-CMD formed the majority of the House of Representative 's 19th Congress . This was the first time a vice president's party leads the lower house, although Marcos' Partido Federal ng Pilipinas is part of the coalition .[ 25] Out of the twelve upcoming members of the 24-seat Senate , only Risa Hontiveros formed part of the opposition.[ 26]
Vice President Sara Duterte was appointed as Marcos' first Secretary of Education after they both took office in mid-2022.[ 27] Although she preferred to be Secretary of Defense [ 28] Over the next two years, Duterte's relationship with Marcos' allies detoriated, particularly with House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Marcos' wife and first lady Liza Araneta .[ 27] She resigned in May 2023 from Lakas–CMD where she served as chairperson. Lakas is part of the ruling coalition.[ 29] [ 30]
In January 2024, President Marcos insisted that the UniTeam is still "vibrant", referring to his working relationship with his deputy.[ 31]
Duterte tendered resignation from her position as education secretary in June 2024.[ 32] When asked about her friendship with Marcos in September 2024, she said they were never friends and merely running mates in the 2022 elections.[ 33] Marcos responded expressing he was "deceived" about their supposed friendship.[ 34] In October 2024, she detailed her fallout with Marcos, who she says "does not know how to be president".[ 35] [ 36]
See also
References
^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (January 25, 2022). "Federal gov't system fits PH but Cha-cha 'difficult' – Marcos Jr" . INQUIRER.net . Retrieved April 30, 2022 .
^ " 'Youth crucial in Bongbong-Sara UniTeam's push for national unity' " . BusinessMirror . December 7, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2022 .
^ "Duterte vs Marcos' brand of populism: How do they differ?" . CNN . June 30, 2022. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022.
^ "Marcos, Duterte highlight 'unity' as election campaign kicks off" . CNN Philippines . February 8, 2022. Archived from the original on March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022 .
^ a b "Four political parties forge UniTeam alliance pact for Bongbong-Sara tandem" . Manila Bulletin . Retrieved November 29, 2021 .
^ "Marcos-Duterte 'Uniteam' seals 2022 alliance" . Rappler . November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 .
^ Yang, Angelica; Mendoza, John Eric (November 25, 2021). "4 parties form 'UniTeam' alliance for Bongbong Marcos – Sara Duterte tandem" . INQUIRER.net . Retrieved November 29, 2021 .
^ Palicte, Che (November 25, 2021). "4 parties link up for BBM-Sara's 'UniTeam' " . Philippine News Agency . Archived from the original on November 25, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021 .
^ Cruz, RG (June 9, 2023). "Imee confirms she convinced Sara to run as Marcos Jr's VP" . ABS-CBN News . Manila : ABS-CBN Corporation . Retrieved January 31, 2024 .
^ News, LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA Integrated (June 19, 2024). "Uniteam no more: Timeline of Marcos-Duterte tandem's woes" . GMA News Online . Retrieved November 25, 2024 . CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link )
^ "Hugpong vows to 'do more' for Marcos in Davao, as some incumbents pick Robredo" . RAPPLER . March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 30, 2022 .
^ Tolentino, Ma Reina Leanne (November 25, 2021). "Lakas adopts BBM as presidential bet" . The Manila Times . Retrieved April 30, 2022 .
^ "Romualdez reaffirms support for Duterte's federalism agenda" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . June 5, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2020 .
^ Manalastas, Jester P. (June 5, 2019). "Federalism push renewed" . Retrieved January 16, 2020 .
^ "BBM's Partido Federal ng Pilipinas adopts Sara as vice presidential bet" . Manila Bulletin . Retrieved April 30, 2022 .
^ "Four political parties forge UniTeam alliance pact for Bongbong-Sara tandem" . Manila Bulletin . Retrieved April 30, 2022 .
^ Dayley, Robert (2016). Southeast Asia In The New International Era . ISBN 9780813350110 . Retrieved April 19, 2017 .
^ Punay, Edu. "Parties allied with BBM-Sara Duterte call for honest elections" . Philstar.com . Retrieved May 9, 2022 .
^ "Gadon, Marcoleta, Zubiri added to Marcos-Duterte senatorial slate" . CNN Philippines . January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022 .
^ "Marcos-Duterte tandem adopts Gringo Honasan in Senate slate" . ABS-CBN News . February 4, 2022. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022 .
^ Valente, Catherine S. (March 13, 2022). "Robin Padilla now a guest candidate of UniTeam – Sara" . The Manila Times . Retrieved March 14, 2022 .
^ a b Cruz, RG; Abarro, Mico (April 27, 2024). "UniTeam senate bet Marcoleta withdraws from #Halalan2022: Comelec" . ABS-CBN News . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Suelto, Diana Lhyd (June 12, 2024). "Sara: UniTeam good only for 2022 Polls" . Philstar . Retrieved June 13, 2024 .
^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (June 20, 2024). "Gatchalian: Uniteam hasn't met since 2022 polls" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved June 20, 2024 .
^ "Duterte, Romualdez-led Lakas-CMD to dominate House under Marcos" . Rappler . June 20, 2024. Archived from the original on July 5, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (May 18, 2022). "Halalan 2022: Comelec officially proclaims 12 newly elected senators" . ABS-CBN News . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ a b Panti, Llanesca (June 19, 2024). "Uniteam no more: Timeline of Marcos-Duterte tandem's woes" . GMA News . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ "Sara ditches preferred defense post to avoid stability 'intrigues' " . BusinessWorld . May 12, 2022. Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Galvez, Daphne (May 19, 2023). "Sara Duterte resigns from Lakas-CMD" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Leon, Dwight de (May 19, 2023). "Uniteam no more? House squabble puts spotlight on 2025, 2028 elections" . Rappler . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ "Marcos: UniTeam still vibrant, still working" . GMA News . January 30, 2024. Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Tulad, Victoria (June 20, 2024). " 'Nabasag 'yung UniTeam': Duterte resignation saddens lawmaker" ['UniTeam shaterred': Duterte resignation saddens lawmaker]. ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (September 18, 2024). "VP Duterte on President Marcos: We're not talking, we're not friends" . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Subingsubing, Krixia (October 12, 2024). " 'I was deceived,' Marcos says of VP Sara's 'friendship' " . Philippine Daily Inquirer . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Servallos, Neil Jayson (October 19, 2024). "President Marcos doesn't know how to be president — VP Sara" . The Philippine Star . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .
^ Chi, Cristina (October 18, 2024). " 'Drag me to hell': Sara Duterte gets personal in fiery tell-all vs Marcos" . The Philippine Star . Retrieved October 20, 2024 .