Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. ARNOLD ALMACEN/Poe-Escudero Media Bureau
SORSOGON – Conceding defeat in the vice presidential race, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero returns to his role as a legislator, as the country welcomes a new President.
With the nation still torn on various choices in the 2016 elections, Escudero pleaded to the public to give the incoming administration a chance.
“Marahil manonood at magmamatyag muna ang ating mga kababayan. Naghatol at nag-desisyon ang ating mga kababayan, at dapat galangin at tanggapin ng lahat yan. Baka din kasi iba ang ingay sa pulitika at pangangampanya doon sa aktwal na paninilbihan ng mga opisyal na napili ng ating mga kababayan,” he said on Tuesday.
“Mas importanteng maghilom muli ang bansa, mag-unite sa iisang lider kung sino man ang tatayong pangulo, gusto man nya sa atin o hindi, pinili man natin sya o hindi.”
(Perhaps our countrymen are watching and waiting. Our countrymen have already made their decision and we must respect and accept that. It is also possible that the clamor during the campaign is different from that of the officials’ actual performance.
(What is important is for the country to be healed, to be united under one leader, whoever the President will be, whether we voted for him or not.)
READ: Chiz Escudero concedes defeat in vice presidential race
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte dominated the presidential race, amassing 15.2 million votes as of 10:30 a.m., while Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo and Sen. Bongbong Marcos are still neck and neck in the vice presidential race.
Escudero has already expressed his support for the Duterte presidency and backed fellow Bicolano Robredo in the VP race.
READ: Chiz cheers for Leni in VP race, calls for unity under next prexy
Still, he said that the public should support whoever wins at the end of the canvassing.
“Sana imbes na magpatuloy yung hidwaan at bangayan, kung sino man ang mananalo, ibigay natin sa kanya ang ating suporta dahil tatayo sila bilang pangulo at ikalawang pangulo ng ating bansa, binoto man natin o hindi,” he said.
“Sa parte natin, dapat tanggapin natin at bigyang galang yung posisyon at opisina na pinanghahawakan na nila ngayon, gusto man natin sila o ayaw natin sa kanila.”
(I hope that, instead of continuing the fighting and bickering, whoever wins, let us give them our full support because they will be our President and vice president, whether we voted for them or not.
(For our part, we must accept and respect the position and office that they hold now, whether we like them or not.) CDG/rga