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Roxas raises white flag, concedes to Duterte
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 ng Comelec, malinaw na si Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ang magiging susunod na pangulo ng Republika ng Pilipinas," 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.
"Sa mga nagtiwala hindi lang sa akin pero pati na rin sa mga prinsipyo na pinaglaban natin, maraming maraming salamat," he said.
"Araw-araw, kasama ko kayo na humarap sa lahat ng hamon. Alam ko na marami sa inyo, stuck your necks out sa laban na ito. Pero sa kabila ng lahat, hindi kayo bumitaw. Nanindigan kayo. Sinamahan n’yo ako hanggang sa dulo. For that, I am very grateful,” Roxas added.
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 mabibilang ng tama ang kanyang boto," he said.
