Palace commends Pangilinan resignation: He accepts defeat

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Screengrab from RTVM video

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday commended Sen. Francis Pangilinan for resigning as president of the once-dominant Liberal Party.

“That’s commendable. He accepts defeats,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

In a statement, Pangilinan would vacate his position in the party starting June 30.

READ: Kiko Pangilinan quits as LP president

“As campaign manager for the Otso Diretso slate, I was unable to ensure our victory in the elections and I therefore assume full responsibility for the outcome and hold myself primarily accountable for this defeat and have tendered my resignation as president of the LP effective June 30, 2019,” Pangilinan said.

None of the eight senatorial candidates of the opposition’s “Otso Diretso” made it to the Top 12 in the May 13 midterm elections.  Pangilinan served as the campaign manager of Otso Diretso. 

Eight of President Rodrigo Duterte’s senatorial candidates made it to the Top 12.

Sought for comment on Vice President Leni Robredo’s decision to reject Pangilinan’s resignation, Panelo said he doesn’t speak for the Liberal Party.

“Let LP speak for itself. We’ll watch in amusement,” Panelo said.

“That’s internal within the party. We will never interfere,” he added. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)