1949 Philippine presidential election

1949 Philippine presidential election

November 8, 1949
 
Nominee Elpidio Quirino José P. Laurel José Avelino
Party Liberal Nacionalista Liberal
Running mate Fernando Lopez Manuel Briones Vicente Francisco
Popular vote 1,803,808 1,318,330 419,890
Percentage 50.93% 37.22% 11.85%


President before election

Elpidio Quirino
Liberal

Elected President

Elpidio Quirino
Liberal

The 1949 Philippine presidential and vice presidential elections were held on November 8, 1949. Incumbent President Elpidio Quirino won a full term as President of the Philippines after the death of President Manuel Roxas in 1948. His running mate, Senator Fernando Lopez, won as Vice President. Despite factions created in the administration party, Quirino won a satisfactory vote from the public. It was the only time in Philippine history where the duly elected president, vice president and senators all came from the same party, the Liberal Party. Carlos P. Romulo and Marvin M. Gray, publisher of the Manila Evening News, accuse Quirino in their book The Magsaysay Story of widespread fraud and intimidation of the opposition by military action, calling it the "dirty election".

Criticism of the election

The election was widely criticized as being corrupt, with violence and fraud taking place. Opponents of Quirino were either beaten up or murdered by his supporters or the police, and the election continues to be perceived as corrupt.

Results

President

Candidate Party Votes %
Elpidio Quirino Liberal Party (Quirino wing) 1,803,808 50.93
Jose P. Laurel Nacionalista Party 1,318,320 37.22
José Avelino Liberal Party (Avelino wing) 419,890 11.85
Total 3,542,018 100.00
Valid votes 3,542,018 98.94
Invalid/blank votes 37,899 1.06
Total votes 3,579,917 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 5,135,814 69.70
Source: Nohlen, Grotz, Hartmann, Hasall and Santos
  1. The Liberal Party was split into two wings: those who supported Quirino or the "Quirinitas" or the "Quirino wing", and those who supported Avelino or the "Avelinistas" or the "Avelino wing".
Popular vote
Quirino
50.93%
Laurel
37.22%
Avelino
11.85%

Vice-President

Candidate Party Votes %
Fernando Lopez Liberal Party (Quirino wing) 1,741,302 51.67
Manuel Briones Nacionalista Party 1,184,215 35.14
Vicente Francisco Liberal Party (Avelino wing) 444,550 13.19
Total 3,370,067 100.00
Valid votes 3,370,067 94.14
Invalid/blank votes 209,850 5.86
Total votes 3,579,917 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 5,135,814 69.70
Source: Nohlen, Grotz, Hartmann, Hasall and Santos
  1. The Liberal Party was split into two wings: those who supported Elpidio Quirino or the "Quirinitas" or the "Quirino wing", and those who supported Jose Avelino or the "Avelinistas" or the "Avelino wing".
Popular vote
Lopez
51.67%
Briones
35.14%
Francisco
13.19%

See also