Poe ends presidential bid, concedes to Duterte

Sen. Grace Poe conceded defeat to Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential contest close to midnight Monday after unofficial results showed the tough-talking mayor winning a large chunk of the votes.

Poe, a popular senator who had led in opinion polls in earlier stages of the contest, had won over a fifth of votes by midnight, but trailed Duterte by a substantial margin during the vote count.

The election numbers reported by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), which is accredited by the election commission, showed Duterte had 13.7 million votes, followed by Manuel Roxas, with nearly 8 million and Poe third with 7.6 million.

“Ako si Grace Poe at naging kandidato sa pagka pangulo, nagbibigay daan kay Rodrigo Duterte na siyang maliwanag na nangunguna sa kasalukuyang bilangan at napili ng nakararami,” Poe said reading from a prepared statement during a press conference held in Quezon City.

“Binabati ko si Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at ipinapangako ko ang aking pakikiisa sa paghilom ng ating bayan at pakikiisa ng ating mga kababayan tungo sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” she said.

Despite going through a grueling election season marked by a disqualification attempt and questions on her citizenship, Poe said she will go to sleep with a clean conscience because she knows she ran a clear campaign and gave the presidency her best shot.

“Matutulog ako ngayong gabi na may malinis na konsensya, na panatag sa kaalaman na ako, kasama ang aking pangkat at ang lahat ng minamahal kong tagasuporta, ginawa natin ang lahat. Ginawa natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya,” she said.

Poe said she did not find it hard to concede to Duterte just a few hours after voting ended at 5 p.m. Monday because she respects the people’s will.

“Hindi naging mahirap sa akin ang ating pagbibigay-daan. Hindi ito pagsuko, ito ay pagbibigay-daan, at pagbibigay respeto at pagkilala sa ating sistema ng demokrasya. Ito ay pagkilala sa mga pinili ng ating mga kababayan,” she said.

Poe said she and the mayor had a good conversation when he called him up sometime Monday night to concede and congratulate him.

The senator said Duterte told her he is willing to work with whoever wants to contribute efforts for the betterment of the country.

”Sinabi naman niya (Duterte) sa akin na siya ay para rin sa pakikiisa at siya ay makikipagtulungan sa kahit sino na nais isulong kung ano ang makakabuti para sa ating bansa. At kahit paano ‘yan ay nagbibigay din sa akin ng konting garantiya na at least ay makakasulong pa rin tayo,” she said.

Asked if she would be willing to accept a Cabinet position under Duterte’s administration, Poe did not give a categorical response but said she can still do more in the three years left she has a senator.

“Ako ay meron pa namang natitirang ilang taon sa Senado. Marami naman tayong pwedeng gawin doon. Basta kung ano ang makakatulong sa ating bayan, ako ay palaging bukas na makikipagtulungan sa sinoman, lalong-lalo na kung ito ay maayos at patas na hinalal ng ating mga kababayan,” she said. — Xianne Arcangel, DVM/BAP/APG, GMA News and Reuters