Nationwide at-large Nationwide at-large 3 (3 up) 20 (13 up) 8 7 Start date April 23, 1946 | Nationwide at-large Nationwide at-large 20 (13 up) 0 7 1 | |
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Winner José Avelino |
The Elections for the members of the Senate held on April 23, 1946 (pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 725).
Contents
Background
Soon after the reconstitution of the Commonwealth Government in 1945 Senators Manuel Roxas, Elpidio Quirino and their allies called for the holding on an early national election to choose the president and vice president of the Philippines and members of the Congress. In December, 1945 the House Insular Affairs of the United States Congress approved the joint resolution setting the election date at not later than April 30, 1946.
Prompted by this congressional action, President Sergio Osmeña called the Philippine Congress to a three-day special session. Congress enacted Commonwealth Act No. 725, setting the election on April 23, 1946, and was approved by President Osmeña on January 5, 1946.
Results
The election was generally peaceful and orderly except in some places where passions ran high, especially in the province of Pampanga. According to the controversial decision of the Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives on Meliton Soliman vs. Luis Taruc, Pampanga was under the terroristic clutches and control of the Hukbalahaps.So terrorized were the people of Arayat, at one time, 200 persons abandoned their homes, their work, and their food, all their belongings in a mass evacuation to the poblacion due to fear and terror.
The Liberal Party won nine out of 16 contested senatorial seats; the first eight Senators would serve until 1951, and the second eight until 1949: