Palace: ‘Duterte magic’ works; Filipinos prefer admin reforms
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER file photo / JOAN BONDOC
MANILA, Philippines — The defeat of the opposition’s “Otso Diretso” candidates in the midterm elections was a proof that Filipinos wanted continuity on the genuine reforms of President Rodrigo Duterte, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo hailed the “resounding victory” of Duterte-backed senators who dominated the Top 12.
“Undoubtedly, the Duterte magic spelled the difference. The overwhelming majority of the electorate had responded to the call of the President to support those whom he said would help pass laws supportive of his goal to uplift our people and give them comfortable lives they richly deserve,” Panelo said in a statement.
The results of the elections, Panelo said, showed that voters have “rejected the negative propaganda unleashed by the opposition” against Duterte, like his extra-judicial killings, drug war, South China Sea, among others.
“The victory of the administration’s candidates and the shut out of the Otso Diretso candidates send a strong message that our people yearn for stability and continuity of the genuine reforms that the administration started,” he said.
“They yearn for a constructive – not obstructionist – Senate which will help in crafting the President’s legislative agenda,” he added.
The Palace official thanked the “Filipino electorate for expressing their will in the strongest and unequivocal manner.”
“With the successful holding of the elections, he said, “we have demonstrated to the world that we have a great order for democracy that can rise above the loud political noise.”
Panelo thanked the Otso Diretso for “fighting a good battle.”
“To the Otso Diretso candidates and their supporters, we thank you for giving your best shot and fighting a good battle. As we have said, we respect dissent as it vitalizes the democracy of our nation. In the end, however, it is the will of the people that prevails,” he said.
“While we expect dissent to continue, we hope that the same be demonstrated with fairness and within the bounds of the law, as well as with deference to the leaders duly chosen by the electorate,” he added.
He urged Filipinos, citing that “we only have one government and one nation” to “support it for the betterment of the Philippines that we all love.” (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)
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