(UPDATED) MANILA City Mayor Isko Moreno and labor leader Leody de Guzman conceded from the presidential race Tuesday, with 97 percent of election returns already processed over 24 hours after polling precincts opened for this year’s national and local polls.
In an interview, Moreno, who ranked fourth in the partial and unofficial tally of votes as of 3:45 p.m., said it is clear that the Filipino people have chosen former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and his runningmate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, to lead the nation.
He congratulated Marcos for leading the race.
“I hope it can be official soon na matapos na at mapapanatag na ang lahat binabati ko ang pamilya ni dating senador Ferdinand Marcos sa pagpili sa kanya ng higit na nakakarami nating mga kababayan na maging hahalinhin bilang pangulo ng bansa. Congratulations po sa inyo,” Moreno said.
He called on the public to unite to help the new administration, saying the Filipino people have the responsibility to support and help the government.
“Wag tayong makikibahagi sa anumang gulo, anumang alingasngas o anumang hindi pagkakasunduan. We have to give chance to the new leadership,” he said.
For his part, De Guzman, who placed eighth as of 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, said while he accepts his defeat, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has a lot of explaining to do in terms of the numerous complaints on irregularities during the election.
He said his camp has received a lot of reports regarding anomalies in the election, among them are vote buying, harassment of poll watchers in Cavite, teachers shading ballots in Mindanao, and the malfunctioning of vote counting machines in several areas in the country.
“Nananawagan tayo sa Comelec na imbestigahan ang mga naiulat na insidente (We call on the Comelec to investigate these incidents),” De Guzman said.
Another presidential candidate, Senator Panfilo Lacson, who currently ranks fifth based on the initial canvassing report, said it is now his time to go back home and serve his family after being a public servant for around 50 years.
“I’m going home. After being away too long looking after the needs of other people, it is time to serve my family for a change,” he said.
“Enjoying peace and quiet in these challenging times will probably be my life’s greatest reward,” he added.
“Sir Ping” trended on Twitter as the netizens expressed gratitude for his service to the public.
Lacson's runningmate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, said he is whole-heartedly accepting the will of the people.
“The people have made their choice. I accept the will of the People. We presented an alternative for a better system in governance and politics but the electorate had their minds conditioned elsewhere. Our word of honor and loyalty are of far greater importance than an election win. I am glad that I did not yield to any political pressure to change my principles and kept my integrity intact till the end,” he said.
Sotto thanked his supporters for believing in him.
The presidential race frontrunner, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., also expressed his gratitude to the people who voted for him while he recognized that nothing is official yet.
“Ngunit kahit hindi pa tapos nga ang pagbilang, hindi makapag-antay ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong lahat — ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng tumulong, sa lahat ng sumapi sa aming ipinaglaban, sa inyong sakripisyo, sa inyong trabaho at sa binigay ninyo sa amin na oras, na kakayahan,” he said in his “address to the nation” delivered in Mandaluyong City.
“Any endeavor as large as this, does not involve one person. It involved very very many people, working in very very many different ways... And to all of them, I thank you. Let us keep watch on the vote, kung tayo’y palarin, aasahan ko na ang inyong tulong ay di magsawa, ang inyong tiwala ay di magsawa dahil marami tayong gagawin dito sa ating hinaharap,” he added.
His staunch rival, Vice President Leni Robredo, who is lagging far behind Marcos, said the voice of the people is now becoming clearer.
“Hindi kayang sukatin ng numero ang lalim ng pagmamahal ninyo. Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo. Alam kong hindi madaling tanggapin sa inyo ang mga numerong lumalabas sa quick count. Hindi lang panghihinayang, kundi malinaw na pagkadismaya ang nararamdaman ng ating hanay,” she said.
“Gayumpaman, sinasabi ko sa inyo: Alam kong mahal natin ang bansa, pero hindi puwedeng maging ugat pa ng pagkakawatak-watak ang pagmamahal na ito. Bagaman may hindi pa nabibilang; bagaman may mga tanong pa ukol sa eleksyon na ito na kailangang matugunan: Palinaw na nang palinaw ang tinig ng taumbayan. Sa ngalan ng Pilipinas na alam kong mahal na mahal rin ninyo: Kailangan nating pakinggan ang tinig na ito, dahil sa huli, iisa lang ang bayang pinagsasaluhan natin,” she added.
She also expressed gratitude to those who tirelessly supported her and campaigned for her, saying none of their efforts were put to waste.
Robredo said she will not abandon her fight especially for those in the marginalized sector, as she urged her supporters to continue to rally behind her.
“Kaya huwag kayong bibitaw. Panatilihing aktibo ang mga komunidad. Patuloy na tumindig. Igiit ang katotohanan. Matagal binuo ang mga istruktura ng kasinungalingan; may panahon at pagkakataon tayo ngayong labanan at baklasin ito. Lalong palawakin ang pusong nabuksan na; damhin ang dinadaanan ng kapwa natin, makipasan ng mga dalahin nila, ituloy ang laban para iangat ang buhay ng lahat,” she said.
“Patuloy tayo magmahal. Maaaring hindi ngayon, maaaring hindi bukas o sa makalawa o sa susunod na taon, pero may liwanag pa ring nag-aabang basta't handa tayong magsikap na abutin ito,” she added.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 10, Marcos had 30,958,008 votes, while Robredo had 14,753,883.
Marcos' runningmate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, is also leading in the vice presidential race with 31,393,056 unofficial votes. (With LMY/SunStar Philippines)