Atty. Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. Screengrab from PTV
MANILA, Philippines — Critics should just respect the decision of the majority of the Filipino voters, the camp of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Wednesday.
Atty. Vic Rodriguez, Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson, made the remark amid questions over a supposed consistent 47-percent ratio between votes for his candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo.
“Respetuhin na lang ho sana nila yung naging desisyon ng higit sa mayorya ng Pilipino,” Rodriguez said in an interview with CNN Philippines when asked about the voting ratio issue.
(I hope they just respect the decision of more than the majority of Filipinos.)
“Huwag na ho nating discredit yung isang halalan na naging malinis. As what President Rodrigo Duterte committed na under his term, bahagi ng kanyang legacy ang pagkakaroon natin ng isang clean, fair, honest, credible and peaceful election at ‘yan naman ay nakuha natin noong huling halalan,” he added.
(Let us not discredit an election that was clean. As what President Rodrigo Duterte committed under his term, part of his legacy would be a clean, fair, honest, credible, and peaceful elections and that’s what we got in these latest polls.)
As of 11:47 a.m., May 11, partial and unofficial counts of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) show Marcos Jr. with 31 million votes. In distant second is Robredo who received over 14.8 million votes. As of the update, 98.25 percent of the election returns have been processed.
“’Yung mga hindi nagwagi o hindi nagtagumpay, kami ho ay sumailalim sa pinaka-demokratikong proseso ng pagpili ng lider ng ating bansa at yan ay ang pagkakaroon ng halalan,” Rodriguez said.
(For those who did not win, we underwent the most democratic process in choosing a leader of our country and that is by holding an election.)
“At sumagot ang higit sa mayorya ng Pilipino at ang kanilang napili ay si Bongbong Marcos at Mayor Sara Duterte,” Rodriguez said referring to Marcos Jr.’s running mate Davao City mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio who is also leading the vice presidential race.
(And the majority of Filipinos have spoken. They have chosen Bongbong Marcos and Mayor Sara Duterte.)
Rodriguez said the Marcos-Duterte tandem will continue to extend their hand of unity, which he said has been Marcos Jr.’s consistent message since he announced his candidacy back in October 2021.
“Then and now, we are offering our hand of unity. Iisang bansa tayo, iisang lahi (We are one country, one race),” Rodriguez said.
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