DAVAO City Mayor and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio urged her supporters to be humble and reach out to rival candidates’ supporters as a way to unite the country after the elections.
Duterte-Carpio made the statement during the online thanksgiving for her supporters on Friday, May 13, days after the election.
"Tayo na po ang mauna na lumapit sa mga naka-tunggali natin na supporters
ng mga natalong kandidato. Tayo na po ang magpakumbaba dahil tayo ang panalo (We should be the ones who should reach out to the supporters of the candidates who lost in the elections. We should humble ourselves since we are the winner)," she said.
She added, "We have to be magnanimous because we are only 31.5 million, kailangan natin sila para tayo ay maging isang 100 percent na bansa (we need them so that our country could achieve 100 percent support)."
Duterte-Carpio referred the 31.5 million to the number of votes she garnered in the partial and unofficial count from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) transparency server.
The mayor also reiterated her statement of setting aside political colors right after the elections.
"Noong kampanya sinabi ko na pagkatapos na eleksyon ay kailangan nating kalimutan ang mga kulay na naging palatandaan ng ating pulitika. Ang mga kulay na ito ay naging mukha ng mainit na away ng mga supporters (During the campaign, I said that we need to forget all colors of politics. These colors resulted in a hot feud between different supporters)," she said.
She then urged all elective leaders to ensure social services are given to all Filipinos, including those who did not vote for them.
Duterte-Carpio also urged her supporters to support the administration of presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
The incumbent mayor, who has been nominated for Education secretary under the Marcos administration, reiterated her commitment to help in achieving the full potential of young Filipinos.
"Ako — bilang susunod na Secretary ng Department of Education — sisiguraduhin ko na ang ating gobyerno ay tumutugon sa tawag ng panahon (I — as the next DepEd Secretary — will ensure that the government will address the needs of the times)," she said.
"Nangako ako na isusulong ang mga reporma sa DepEd para makabuo tayo ng mga kabataang Pilipino na pursigido na makamit ang kanilang (I promise to push for reforms in DepEd for us to form Filipino youth that would be determined in achieving their) full potentials as individuals,” she added.
The incoming vice president also said she would be working on producing skilled learners as the country needs a future generation of patriotic Filipinos that advocate peace and discipline in their respective communities.