THE spokesman of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte said Tuesday the result of Monday’s polls, which showed she was winning the vice-presidential race, was a major step in unifying the multi-ethnic country of 110 million.
“Mayor Inday Sara is very happy; she is full of gratitude to the public, volunteers, parallel groups, local leaders that came out to support her and our next president, Bongbong Marcos. She’s filled with hope that this is the first big step towards unifying our country,” Cristina Frasco told GMA News.
Photo by Ver Noveno
“Our countrymen have joined in showing support to the call for unity. Over and above our political differences is our common love for our country demonstrated by an overwhelming number of Filipinos that came out to exercise their democratic right to vote,” she added.
Frasco said Duterte, who is in her hometown of Davao City monitoring the post-election events, was thankful to her supporters who chose her and acknowledged the Marcos-Duterte tandem’s call for unity.
Asked if Duterte was willing to reach out to her opponents in the recent polls, Frasco explained that the presidential daughter had always been a “unifier.”
“Mayor Inday Sara has always been a unifier and that has been her message all along together with our next president Bongbong Marcos and so I have no doubt that we move of the next administration will be one that is anchored on unity no matter the political divisions these past elections,” she said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto conceded defeat in the vice-presidential race Tuesday after unofficial results showed his rival Duterte enjoyed a huge lead.
“The people have made their choice. I accept the will of the People,” Sotto said in a statement.
Duterte has secured some 31.1 million votes, according to partial unofficial results from the Commission on Elections, with 96.82 percent of election returns counted as of 10:17 a.m.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan was a distant second with 9.1 million votes, followed by Sotto with some 8.1 million votes.
“We presented an alternative for a better system in governance and politics, but the electorate had their minds conditioned elsewhere,” said Sotto, running-mate of Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson.
“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 added, “God speed to our new President and Vice President.”
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD,” Sotto said, quoting the Bible.
Sotto was the favorite in the vice-presidential race based on pre-election surveys last year when Duterte was not yet on the list of bets for the country’s second highest post.
In other developments, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’s running mate Willie Ong took to Facebook Monday night to express his gratitude to those who voted for him and supported his vice-presidential bid. Ong said the public would someday experience the service he could give. He added: “To those who did not vote for me, it’s okay. I am patient. One day, you will know those who will sincerely love you and serve you. I will just wait for that day.”