A senatorial election was held on November 14, 1961 in the Philippines. The two candidates of the Progressive Party, guest candidates of the Liberal Party, topped the election, while the Liberals themselves won four seats cutting the Nacionalista Party's majority to 13 seats in the 24-seat Philippine Senate.

Quick Facts 8 (of the 24) seats in the Senate 13 seats needed for a majority, Majority party ...

1961 Philippine Senate election

← 1959 November 14, 1961 1963 →
8 (of the 24) seats in the Senate 13 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Eulogio Rodriguez Ferdinand Marcos Raul Manglapus Party Nacionalista Liberal Progressive Seats before 17 5 0 Seats after 13 8 2 Seat change 4 3 New Popular vote 17,834,477 14,988,931 6,577,698 Percentage 45.1% 37.9% 16.6% Swing 5.0% 6.2% 7.4%
Senate President before election Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista Elected Senate President Eulogio Rodriguez Nacionalista

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All incumbents defended their seats in this election.

The Liberal Party won four seats contested in the election, while the Nacionalista Party and the Liberal Party won two each.

Lorenzo Sumulong was the sole Nacionalista to successfully defend his seat. Liberal Francisco Soc Rodrigo, who originally was a Nacionalista, was the other senator to defend his seat.

Two Liberals are neophyte senators: Gaudencio Antonino and Maria Kalaw Katigbak. Also entering the Senate for the first time are Progressives Manuel Manahan and Raul Manglapus. Camilo Osias, who last served in the Senate in 1953, won back a Senate seat as a Liberal.

Incumbent Nacionalista senators Decoroso Rosales, Domocao Alonto, Pacita Madrigal-Warns, Pedro Sabido, and Quintin Paredes all lost.

Key:

• ‡ Seats up
• + Gained by a party from another party
• √ Held by the incumbent
• * Held by the same party with a new senator
• ^ Vacancy

• Commission on Elections
• 5th Congress of the Philippines