Liberal Party standard-bearer Mar Roxas greets supporters after conceding to presidential race frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, at the LP headquarters in Quezon City, Tuesday. Roxas had 9.3 million votes compared to Duterte’s 15.3 million, based on partial and unofficial Comelec results as of 1 p.m.(MNS photo)
MANILA, May 10 (Mabuhay) — Administration standard bearer Mar Roxas on Tuesday afternoon conceded defeat to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the May 9 presidential race, saying it is clear based on the unofficial tally that the tough-talking mayor has won.
“Galangin at tanggapin natin ang pasya ng ating mga kababayan,” Roxas told his cheering supporters who gathered at the Liberal Party’s headquarters in Quezon City.
“Ayon sa unofficial count, si Digong ang susunod na pangulo ng bansa,” Roxas added as he wished Duterte “success.”
“Digong, I wish you success,” he said. “Ang iyong tagumpay ay tagumpay ng ating bansa.”
In his speech, Roxas also thanked all those who supported his campaign.
Administration presidential bet Manuel “Mar” Roxas congratulates Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as he concedes defeat in the 2016 elections during a press conference at the Liberal Party headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday (May 10, 2016). He also profusely thanked all Daang Matuwid Coalition’s supporters for sticking with him till the end. “Let us start the process of nation building. Let us respect and accept the will of the people. It is clear that Mayor Duterte is the winner of this elections,” Roxas said. (MNS photo)
“Sa mga nagtiwala hindi lang sa akin pero pati na rin sa mga prinsipyo na pinaglaban natin, maraming maraming salamat,” he said.
Duterte was still leading the partial and unofficial count with around six million votes based on the transparency servers of the Commission on Elections as of Tuesday afternoon.
Roxas, who arrived with his wife Korina, was initially scheduled to hold a media briefing at 11 a.m. but it was moved to 1 p.m. after he met with running mate, Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, who flew in from Naga City.
Also in the meeting were LP stalwarts Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
Roxas urged the public to continue monitoring the poll results in the vice-presidential race where Robredo is in a neck-and-neck fight against Senator Bongbong Marcos.
“Ngayon, hindi pa tapos ang laban ni Leni. Angat siya. Lumalaban siya. Patuloy tayong magbantay, manalig at sumuporta. Siguraduhin natin na mabibiling ng tama ang kanyang boto,” he said.(MNS)