Kiko Pangilinan: Let's remain vigilant and wait for final vote tally

Liberal Party president and Otso Diretso campaign manager Senator Francis Pangilinan urged the public to remain vigilant and wait for the canvassing of votes for the senatorial race to finish.

Pangilinan made the remark amid the release of the partial and unofficial results of Monday's midterm elections where, as of around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, none of the eight opposition candidates made it to the winners' circle.

"May pitong porsyento pa ng boto o mga 3 milyong boto na hindi pa nabibilang sa unofficial tally. Hihintayin natin ang huling resulta at mananatiling nakabantay," Pangilinan said in a statement.

"Baka sakaling sa nasabing nalalabing pitong porsyento ay maipanalo pa ng isa o dalawa nating mga kandidato ang kanilang kandidatura. Mananatili tayong mapagbantay hanggang sa dulo," he added.

Ten of the 12 senatorial candidates who are likely to win the senatorial race are allied with the administration, while the other two candidates are independent ones.

The closest to the winners' circle from the opposition slate was reelectionist Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, but he is two ranks away from winning at 14th place.

Pangilinan said that while the odds are not in the opposition slate's favor, the battles they are fighting for are far from over, such as protecting national sovereignty and the economy, putting an end to extrajudicial killings and harassment to those who oppose the administration, among other issues.

He said the opposition candidates did not seek senatorial seats merely to win. If they did, they could have just forged alliances with the administration and set aside their principles.

"Tumaya tayo at kumilos hindi dahil sa katiyakan ng panalo kundi dahil sa katiyakan ng ating paniniwala at panininidigan. Kaya anuman ang magiging resulta ng halalan, tuloy pa rin ang pagsulong ng ating panininidigan at paniniwala," Pangilinan said.

"Tuloy pa rin ang laban para sa katarungan, para sa kasarinlan at sa mas maunlad na bukas para sa ating mga kababayan. Tuloy ang laban!" he added. —KG, GMA News