1949 Philippine presidential election

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.

1949 Philippine presidential election

← 1946 November 8, 1949 1953 →
Turnout	69.70 (19.89pp)
Candidate Elpidio Quirino José P. Laurel José Avelino Party Liberal Nacionalista Liberal Alliance Quirinita Avelinista 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
1949 Philippine vice presidential election
← 1946 November 8, 1949 1953 →
Candidate Fernando Lopez Manuel Briones Vicente Francisco Party Liberal Nacionalista Liberal Popular vote 1,741,302 1,184,215 444,550 Percentage 51.67% 35.14 13.19%
Vice President before election Vacant (Elpidio Quirino in previous election) Elected Vice President Fernando Lopez Liberal

Fraud and violence was prevalent during the election.^[1] Carlos P. Romulo and Marvin M. Gray, publisher of the Manila Evening News, accuse Quirino in their book The Magsaysay Story^[2] 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,^[3] with violence and fraud taking place.^[4] Opponents of Quirino were either beaten up or murdered by his supporters or the police, and the election continues to be perceived as corrupt.^[5]

Results

President

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Elpidio Quirino	Liberal Party (Quirino wing)[a]	1,803,808	50.93
	Jose P. Laurel	Nacionalista Party	1,318,320	37.22
	José Avelino	Liberal Party (Avelino wing)[a]	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[6]

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)[a]	1,741,302	51.67
	Manuel Briones	Nacionalista Party	1,184,215	35.14
	Vicente Francisco	Liberal Party (Avelino wing)[a]	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[7]

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

• Commission on Elections
• Politics of the Philippines
• Philippine elections
• President of the Philippines
• 2nd Congress of the Philippines