Sonia Roco concedes defeat

Genuine Opposition senatorial candidate Sonia Roco on Thursday announced she has conceded defeat in the race for the Senate. In a text message received by GMA News Flash Report, Roco said she has accepted she could not make it into the Magic 12. Roco as of the latest tally of the Commission on Elections is in 17th place with 7,901,443 votes. The widow of Raul Roco said, however, appealed to the public to remain vigilant against election cheating and fight for the truth, justice and freedom. Meanwhile, GO candidate Aquilino “Koko" Pimentel III held on to the last spot in the senatorial race, widening his lead to 150,000 votes over Team Unity’s Juan Miguel Zubiri, in the Commission on Elections’ partial official tally as of Thursday, 4:30 p.m. The standings were unchanged as GO kept eight of the top 12 slots, against two held by TU and two by independents. Pimentel (10,055,051 votes) led Zubiri (9,905,034), who was at 13th, by 150,017 votes. In the end-Wednesday tally, the GO bet’s lead was 99,335 votes. Pimentel also increased his lead over 14th-ranked Ralph Recto (9,745,485) of TU to 309,566 votes. GO’s Antonio Trillanes IV (10,270,365) also tightened his grip on the 11th spot, distancing himself by 365,331 votes from Zubiri and 524,880 from Recto. GO’s Loren Legarda remained ahead of the pack, passing the 17-million-vote mark, still closely followed by fellow GO bet Francis “Chiz" Escudero (16,934,982). GO’s Panfilo “Ping" Lacson (14,391,494) held on to the third spot, still shadowed by another GO candidate, Manuel Villar (14,225,533). Independent Francis “Kiko" Pangilinan (13,570,178) was fifth, trailed by GO’s Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III (13,38,905). Edgardo Angara (11,453,242) remained the highest-ranked TU bet at seventh. Still at eight to 10th were; GO’s Alan Peter Cayetano (10,912,680); TU’s Joker Arroyo (10,853,157), and independent Gregorio “Gringo" Honasan (10,642,467). -GMANews.TV