Roxas concedes defeat: I wish you success, Mayor Duterte

WATCH Emotions ran high at LP Headquarters as @MARoxas concedes to #Du30, supporters chant Roxas’ name VotePH 2016 pic.twitter.com/EIilMlXMZ5

— Julliane de Jesus (@JLDejesusINQ) May 10, 2016

Emotions ran high at the Liberal Party headquarters  as standard-bearer Mar Roxas announced his concession to the leading presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday.

Duterte is ahead of Roxas by at least 6 million votes. Roxas overtook Senator Grace Poe at second place according to the latest partial and unofficial tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“According to the unofficial tally of Comelec, Mayor Digong is the clear winner. I wish you success, Mayor Duterte. Your success is the success of the Filipino people,” Roxas said.

Supporters of Roxas were seen crying as he delivered a speech at a packed function hall at the Balay headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City. Roxas was with his wife Korina Sanchez.

Roxas, who looked upbeat as he entered the hall, followed rival Poe’s lead, who conceded to Duterte over the phone and later to the media at midnight.

The administration candidate thanked President Aquino and his family, the Liberal Party and its allied parties, the non-government organizations, civil society organizations, and his support base—“The Silent Majority”—and all the ordinary citizens who supported him in his campaign.

“Sa lahat pong tumayo, to all of you who took up the cudgels, who shared in our aspirations, na nakasama kong tumayo, maraming-maraming salamat sa inyong lahat,” he said.

(To all those who stood up, to all those who took up the cudgels, who shared in our aspirations, who stoodyup with me, thank you very much to all of you.)

Roxas thanked them for being with him until the end of his rough campaign for the presidency.

“Araw-araw, kasama ko kayo na humarap sa lahat ng hamon. Alam ko na marami sa inyo, stuck your necks out sa laban na ito. Pero sa kabila ng lahat, hindi kayo bumitaw. Nanindigan kayo. Sinamahan n’yo ako hanggang sa dulo. For that, I am very grateful,” he said.

(Every day, you were with me to face the challenge. I know that many of you stuck your necks out for this fight. But despite it all, you never let go. You stood your ground. You were with me until the end.)

Before making the announcement, Roxas met with LP stalwarts reelectionist Senator Franklin Drilon, and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., his campaign manager.

As Roxas slowly exited the room, his supporters, while tearing up, sang “Bayan Ko” and then cheered “Mar Roxas! Mar Roxas!”

Liberal Party presidential candidate Mar Roxas concedes to rival Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during his press conference May 10, 2016 held at the LP headquarters in Cubao, QC. Lyn Rillon/INQUIRER PHOTO

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