MANILA, Philippines – Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday advised losing opposition senatorial candidates to accept their defeat.
“Ang advice ko sa kanila tanggapin na lang nila kung anong desisyon ng taumbayan (My advise to them is to accept the will of the people),” Pacquiao said in a press conference in Manila.
Pacquiao was reacting to an earlier statement of the opposition’s Osto Diretso campaign manager, Senator Francis Pangilinan, who said that the delay in the transmittal of votes to the Commission on Election (Comelec) transparency servers casts doubts on the election results.
READ: Comelec transparency server glitch delays release of partial poll results
READ: Delay in transmittal of votes raises doubts, says Pangilinan
Pacquiao said that if he finds himself in a similar situation, he would accept the decision of voters.
He likewise cited that he too suffered political defeats in the past.
“Kung ako sa side ko, tanggapin ko na lang kung ano yung desisyon ng taumbayan, Nung tumakbo ako natalo ako, tinanggap ko naman, eh yun ang desisyon nila,” he said.
“Siguro may planong Panginoon na hindi pa ito ang time ko, yun ang ginawa ko, dapat marunong tayong tumanggap kasi pagka hindi tayo marunong tumanggap ng pagkatalo at iyan ang desisyon ng taumbayan, tanggapin natin,” he added.
Partial and unofficial results from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) as of 6:14 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, showed that almost all of the top senatorial contenders are administration-backed or allied candidates.
No Otso Diretso bet made is in the winners’ circle in partial, official and unofficla counts of the Commission on elections and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting.
Reelectionist Sen. Bam Aquino is the highest ranked Otso Diretso candidate at 14th spot.
Several Otso Diretso Senate aspirants have conceded earlier this week.
READ: Macalintal concedes as opposition tanks in unofficial tally
READ: Otso Diretso’s Gutoc, Tañada, Hilbay concede
Pacquiao also downplayed allegations of cheating in the elections.
“Dayaan? Mula noon pa, siguro, mga 30 years ko nang naririnig yan, every election may dayaan, wala namang dayaang nangyayari. Hindi lang talaga natin…ang problema dito sa atin hindi lang talaga natin kayang tanggapin na talo tayo,” Pacquiao said. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)