The People's Reform Party (PRP) is a
political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...
in the
Philippines
The Philippines, officially the Republic of the Philippines, is an Archipelagic state, archipelagic country in Southeast Asia. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, it consists of List of islands of the Philippines, 7,641 islands, with a tot ...
. Founded on April 12, 1991, as the political party of former Agrarian Reform Secretary
Miriam Defensor Santiago for her bid as president in the
1992 Presidential Elections. During the 1992 Elections, the party nominated
Santiago
Santiago (, ; ), also known as Santiago de Chile (), is the capital and largest city of Chile and one of the largest cities in the Americas. It is located in the country's central valley and is the center of the Santiago Metropolitan Regi ...
as president and
Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay, Jr. as vice president, however both Santiago and Magsaysay lost the elections to former Defense Secretary
Fidel Ramos
Fidel Valdez Ramos (; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military officer to reached ...
and then-Senator
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...
, respectively. The Force of Reform Philippines (FORPH) serves as the official youth-wing of the People's Reform Party. While under the same Miriam Defensor Santiago wing, the
Youth Reform Movement is not related to the PRP.
History
Formation and 1992 elections: ''Kay Miriam Kami!''
In April 12, 1991, the party was founded by former
Immigration Commissioner and
Agrarian Reform
Land reform (also known as agrarian reform) involves the changing of laws, regulations, or customs regarding land ownership, land use, and land transfers. The reforms may be initiated by governments, by interested groups, or by revolution.
Lan ...
Secretary
A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, program evalu ...
Miriam Defensor Santiago. As Santiago being known for cleaning the immigration bureau against corruption,
she is then being considered as preferred presidential candidate to win. In the party convention for the
1992 elections, she berated her opponents who throwing black propaganda (like of nicknaming her ''Brenda'' for brain damage due to her rants),
and belittlement on her, with choosing former Congressman and
Ramon Magsaysay's son
Jun. Also, tandem of former
NBI director Alfredo Lim
Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...
and former
Housing Agency administrator Lito Atienza
Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (; born August 10, 1941) is a Filipino politician, who served as a 21st Mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007, He also served as the 30th Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources f ...
joined PRP for their
1992 elections in Manila for its mayoral and vice mayoral positions.
Her campaign was known for gathering the vote of the youth, with campaigning and speaking in the universities, with presenting herself as the reformist one. At first, she gathered at least 40% to 50% survey ratings, but in those times where the election day is near, she have a tight race with
Lakas nominee and former Defense Secretary
Fidel Ramos
Fidel Valdez Ramos (; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military officer to reached ...
, who have been endorsed by then-incumbent President
Corazon Aquino
María Corazón "Cory" Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino (; January 25, 1933 – August 1, 2009) was a Filipino politician who served as the 11th president of the Philippines and the first woman president in the country, from Presidency of Corazon ...
.
In the first days of counting votes, Santiago leading the race, with being the topnotcher in all cities and municipalities in Metro Manila. But after incident of
power outages, Ramos lead the counting, and eventually won the elections.
Santiago used that incident as an evidence for filing an electoral protest. Various media personnel became witnesses to the fraud made in the election, where the phrase, Miriam won in the election, but lost in the counting''
' became popular. However, her protest was eventually dismissed by the
Supreme Court
In most legal jurisdictions, a supreme court, also known as a court of last resort, apex court, high (or final) court of appeal, and court of final appeal, is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
.
But in local elections, Lim and Atienza secured their victory in Manila.
1995 elections: Drafting with NPC
For the
1995 Senate elections, Santiago joined the opposition
Nationalist People's Coalition
The Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) is a conservatism, conservative political party in the Philippines which was founded in 1992 by presidential candidate Danding Cojuangco.
History
Formation
In 1990, amid political and economic unce ...
(NPC) led by then-Senate President
Ernesto Maceda. Santiago snatched victory, placing 6th. In the local elections, Lim and Atienza together with some city council candidates who joined PRP won the
elections in Manila
An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...
.
1998 elections: Running again for presidency
In
1998 elections, Santiago launched her second run for presidency, with selection of
Kit Tatad as her running-mate, but both of them lost to then-popular Vice President
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...
and Senator
Gloria Arroyo.
2001 elections: Pwersa ng Masa
For the
2001 Senate election, Santiago and PRP joined the opposition and Pro-Estrada
Pwersa ng Masa. After the arrest of Estrada in April, she challenged critics that she would jump off from a plane without a parachute if Estrada is arrested for plunder.
People Power Coalition
People Power Coalition (PPC), formerly called "''EDSA Forces''", was a Philippine administration-based political multi-party electoral alliance in the May 14, 2001 midterm legislative elections. The coalition was created after the EDSA Revolut ...
's (PPC) left-wing partners such as
Akbayan
The Akbayan Citizens' Action Party, better known as Akbayan (), is a Social democracy, social democratic and Progressivism, progressive List of political parties in the Philippines, political party in the Philippines. The party is noted as a l ...
and KOMPIL II, blasted the statement, and challenged her to fulfill the challenge, and the other one like being gunned down if 13-0 is achieved, and berated PPC's acronym as ''Puro Palpak Coalition''. Even though got the endorsement of a religious sect, she lost the election 15th.
2004 elections: Joining K-4
In
2004 elections, Santiago and the PRP joined President Arroyo's
K-4 coalition, and successfully got a senate seat placing 7th.
2010 elections: Coalition with Nacionalista
For the 2010 elections, Miriam supported
Nacionalista
The Nacionalista Party (Filipino language, Filipino and Spanish language in the Philippines, Spanish: ''Partido Nacionalista''; , NP) is a political party in the Philippines which is the oldest existing party in the country and in Southeast Asi ...
Senator
Manny Villar's presidential candidacy, and joined his slate as a guest candidate. PRP also a guest coalition member of
Lakas–Kampi and
Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino
The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (), formerly Partido ng Masang Pilipino (), is a populist political party in the Philippines. It is the political party of former Philippine President Joseph E. Estrada. In the May 1998 presidential election, ...
on the senatorial election. She won placing 3rd. She did not vote for Senate presidency election between her former Pwersa ng Masa colleague Juan Ponce Enrile and Nacionalista
Alan Peter Cayetano
Alan Peter Schramm Cayetano ( Tagalog pronunciation: ajɛˈtano born October 28, 1970) is a Filipino lawyer, diplomat, and politician serving as a senator since 2022 and previously from 2007 to 2017. He was the Senate Minority Leader from 2 ...
.
Also, her nephew
Mike Defensor ran under PRP banner in the
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
mayoralty race but lost the polls.
Arthur Defensor, Sr. ran for the governorship of
Iloilo
Iloilo ( ; ), officially the Province of Iloilo (; ; ; ), is a province in the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital and largest city is Iloilo City, the regional center of Western Visayas and politically independen ...
and won the polls, who also caucuses with the Nacionalista and Lakas–Kampi.
2016 elections: ''Si Miriam ang Sagot''
On October 13, 2015, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago announced her intention to
run for president in the
2016 elections
Africa
Benin Republic
*2016 Beninese presidential election 6 March 2016
Cape Verde
* 2016 Cape Verdean presidential election 2 October 2016
Chad
* 2016 Chadian presidential election 10 April 2016
Djibouti
* 2016 Djiboutian presidential ...
. She also announced she picked her Senate colleague
Bongbong Marcos
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (, , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials BBM or PBBM, is a Filipino politician who has served as the 17th president of the Philippines since 2022. He is the second child ...
as her running mate for vice president. Some people criticized the move, as when Santiago is still a
RTC judge, she berated her running-mate's father before about human rights abuses and bailed some activists like movie director
Lino Brocka
Catalino Ortiz Brocka (April 3, 1939 – May 22, 1991) was a Filipino film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and significant filmmakers in the history of Philippine cinema. His filmography often addressed the co ...
.
Both Defensor and Marcos lost the election.
Miriam Defensor Santiago's death and 2019 elections
Santiago died September 29, 2016, at
St. Luke's Medical Center in
Taguig
Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig (), is the List of cities in the Philippines, fifth-most populous city in the Philippines situated on the eastern shores of Metro Manila, the national capital region. It is a center for culture, finance ...
from
lung cancer
Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...
. Though the party exists for the political career of Santiago, it agreed through Santiago's widow, Narciso Jr. to nominate
Harry Roque
Herminio Harry Lopez Roque Jr. (; born October 21, 1966) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and former law professor. He served as the presidential spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2017 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2021. He was the pa ...
as candidate for the Philippine Senate. Roque's nomination was arranged through the auspices of
Davao City
Davao City, officially the City of Davao, is a City of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Davao Region, Philippines. The city has a total land area of , making it the List of Philippine cities and municipalities ...
mayor
Sara Duterte
Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio (, ; born May 31, 1978), commonly known as Inday Sara, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who is the 15th and current vice president of the Philippines. She is the third female vice president (after Gloria Macap ...
, daughter of then-
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
*President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Film and television
*'' Præsident ...
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...
. The nomination of Roque sparked wide criticism, garnering massive backlash notably from stern supporters of the late senator and PRP founder Santiago. Various organizations called Roque a 'user' and was 'destroying the image' of PRP and the late Santiago. Additionally, Roque's already low public appeal degraded further from 8.7% in March 2018 into 8% in October 2018.
2022 elections
The PRP, now under Narciso Jr., announced support for
Sara Duterte
Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio (, ; born May 31, 1978), commonly known as Inday Sara, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who is the 15th and current vice president of the Philippines. She is the third female vice president (after Gloria Macap ...
's potential presidential run and renewed their ties with the
Hugpong ng Pagbabago
Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP; ) is a regional political party and former political alliance in the Philippines. Formed in 2018 by Sara Duterte, the party was established in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, and was the admini ...
(HNP) for the
2022 elections. Former Lakas presidential nominee
Gilbert Teodoro
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro Jr. (born June 14, 1964), nicknamed Gibo (), is a Filipino lawyer, politician and business executive, who has served as the secretary of national defense under President Bongbong Marcos since 2023. He ...
and Roque are tapped in to be their senatorial candidates.
2025 elections
For the
2025 elections, PRP endorsed
SAGIP Partylist congressman
Rodante Marcoleta's senate campaign, who also affiliated with
DuterTen.
Electoral candidates
1992 General Election
These are the following members who ran under the People's Reform Party for the following positions:
* Presidential Election
** President:
Miriam Defensor Santiago
** Vice President:
Ramon Magsaysay, Jr.
* Senatorial Election
**
Fortunato Abat
** Cris Abasolo
** Carlos Cajelo
** Dominico Casas
** Jose Cordova
** Dante de Guzman
** Renato Ecarma
** Melchor Ines
**
Antonio Leviste
** Abdullah Abe Madale
** Jaime Muyargas
** Antonio Policarpio
** Mario Reyes
** Blue Rivera
** Efren Sumajit
** Albert Umali
* Local Election: The following politicians won under the People's Reform Party during the 1992 general elections in the Philippines:
** Manila
*** Mayor:
Alfredo Lim
Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...
*** Vice Mayor:
Lito Atienza
Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (; born August 10, 1941) is a Filipino politician, who served as a 21st Mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007, He also served as the 30th Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources f ...
** Baguio City
*** Mayor:
Mauricio Domogan
** Caloocan
*** Mayor:
Rey Malonzo
*** Vice Mayor:
** San Mateo, Rizal
*** Mayor: Jose Peping Diaz
*** Vice Mayor: Ike Rodriguez
*** Councilor: Rodolfo John Ortiz Teope
1995 General Election
The following run under the banner of People's Reform Party in the 1995 election:
* Senatorial Election
#
Miriam Defensor Santiago (won, joined NPC coalition)
# Herman Tiu Laurel (lost)
# Brigido Simon (withdrew and slide to run for Mayor of Quezon City)
* Congressional Election
#Reynaldo Calalay - First District,
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
#Leopoldo San Buenaventura - Camarines Sur
#Narciso Monfort - Iloilo
#
Prospero Nograles - Davao City
#Dabs Abdullah Mangotara - Lanao del Norte
* Board Members
* Albay
**Andres Serrano
* Biliran
**Romulo Bernardes
* Local Election
* Manila
** Mayor:
Alfredo Lim
Alfredo "Fred" Siojo Lim (; December 21, 1929 – August 8, 2020) was a Filipino politician, police officer and lawyer who served as a Senate of the Philippines, Senator of the Philippines from 2004 to 2007, He also served as the 20th Mayor of ...
** Vice Mayor:
Lito Atienza
Jose "Lito" Livioko Atienza Jr. (; born August 10, 1941) is a Filipino politician, who served as a 21st Mayor of Manila for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2007, He also served as the 30th Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources f ...
** Councilors:
#Banzai Nieva
#Berting Ocampo
#Toting Cailian
#Erning Dionisio
#Nesto Ponce
#Bert Basco
#Marlon Lacson
#Joe Lopez
#Pete de Jesus
#Nilo Roces
#Vic Melendez
#Rino Tolentino
#Paz Herrera
#
Edward Maceda
Edward Michael Vera Perez Maceda (born October 3, 1970) is a Filipino lawyer and politician serving as the representative of Manila's 4th district since 2016. Prior to his election as congressman, he was councilor of the same district from ...
#Rudy Bacani
#
Joey Hizon
#Felix Espiritu
#Rogie dela Paz
#
Kim Atienza
Alejandro "Kim" Ilagan Atienza (; born January 24, 1967), also called Kuya Kim, is a Filipino television presenter. Prior to becoming the resident weather anchor for ''TV Patrol'', Atienza served as Manila City Council, councilor of the Manila ...
#Roger Gernale
#Ging Logarta
#
Lou Veloso
Luciano "Lou" Mariñas Veloso (born January 7, 1948) is a Filipino actor, comedian, director and politician. He is known for his supporting roles in over 30 comedy films, which include ''Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang'' (1985), ''Pulis Patola'' (19 ...
#Joy Dawis
#
Butch Belgica
* Catbalogan City
** Mayor: Jess Redaja
* Padre Garcia, Batangas
** Mayor: Victor Reyes
* Mandaluyong
** Vice Mayor:
Ernesto Domingo
* Biñan, Laguna
** Vice Mayor: Alexis Desuasido
* Sta. Rosa, Laguna
** Vice Mayor: Jose Catindig
* Baguio City
** Councilors:
#Elmo Nevada
#Edilberto Claraval
#Richard Carino
#Rolando dela Cruz
#Lilia Yaranon
* Bamban, Tarlac
** Councilors:
#Ricarte Rivera
* Norzagaray, Bulacan
** Councilors:
#Mario Villegas
1998 General Election
Candidates
* ''Presidential Election''
** President:
Miriam Defensor Santiago
** Vice President:
Francisco Tatad
Francisco "Kit" Sarmiento Tatad (born October 4, 1939) is a Filipino journalist and politician best known for having served as Minister of Public Information under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. from 1969 to 1980, and for serving as a Senat ...
* ''Senatorial Election''
(none)
2001 General Election
* ''Senatorial Election''
The leader Miriam Defensor Santiago and her PRP joined the Puwersa ng Masa coalition of the opposition ticket under deposed President Joseph Estrada.
2004 General Election
* ''Senatorial Election''
The leader Miriam Defensor Santiago and her PRP joined the K-4 coalition of the administration ticket under Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
2010 General Election
* ''Senatorial Election''
2016 General Election
Candidates
* ''Presidential Election''
** President:
Miriam Defensor Santiago (Lost)
** Vice President:
Bongbong Marcos
Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos Jr. (, , ; born September 13, 1957), commonly referred to by the initials BBM or PBBM, is a Filipino politician who has served as the 17th president of the Philippines since 2022. He is the second child ...
(Lost)
* ''Senatorial Election''
**
Greco Belgica (Lost)
**
Martin Romualdez
Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez (, born November 14, 1963) is a Filipino businessman, lawyer, and politician who has served as the 24th Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, speaker of the House of Representatives since 2 ...
(Lost)
**
Dionisio Santiago (Lost)
**
Francis Tolentino
Francis Ng Tolentino (, born January 2, 1960) is a Filipino politician and lawyer serving as a senator since 2019. He has been the Senate Majority Leader since 2024 and was formerly the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee from 2022 t ...
(Lost)
* ''Local Election - Pasay ''
** City Councilor - District 2: Ramon Yabut (Lost)
2019 General Election
The following run under the banner of People's Reform Party in the 2019 election:
* Congressional Election
#Maricel Natividad-Nagaño - Fourth District,
Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija, officially the Province of Nueva Ecija ( ; ; ; ), is a landlocked province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon region. Its capital is the city of Palayan, while Cabanatuan, its former capital, is the largest Local gove ...
(won)
2022 General Election
The following run under the Banner of PRP for 2022 elections:
* Senatorial Slate
#
Harry Roque
Herminio Harry Lopez Roque Jr. (; born October 21, 1966) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and former law professor. He served as the presidential spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2017 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2021. He was the pa ...
- Former Presidential Spokesperson (Lost)
#
Gilberto Teodoro - Former Secretary of National Defense (Lost)
Electoral performance
Presidential and vice presidential elections
Legislative elections
Notes
Party leadership history
Notable party members
#
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago
#
Sec. Esperanza Cabral (DOH)
#
Mike Defensor
#
Arthur Defensor, Sr.
#
Harry Roque
Herminio Harry Lopez Roque Jr. (; born October 21, 1966) is a Filipino lawyer, politician, and former law professor. He served as the presidential spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte from 2017 to 2018 and from 2020 to 2021. He was the pa ...
#
Gilbert Teodoro
Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo Cojuangco Teodoro Jr. (born June 14, 1964), nicknamed Gibo (), is a Filipino lawyer, politician and business executive, who has served as the secretary of national defense under President Bongbong Marcos since 2023. He ...
References
{{Philippines topics
Political parties established in 1991
1991 establishments in the Philippines