United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard bearer Vice President Jejomar C. Binay with his children, daughter Second District Makati Rep. Abegail “Abby” Binay and Junjun Binay. JOAN BONDOC/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
Makati Rep. Abby Binay, just proclaimed Makati mayor, said her father Vice President Jejomar Binay would not concede defeat in the presidential race — at least not yet.
In an interview with reporters after her proclamation early Tuesday, Abby said her father would wait for the final and official count of the presidential election.
Abby said it is not like her father to just concede defeat based on an unofficial count.
“Hindi ugali ng dad ko ang nagcoconcede. Ang sinasabi niya lang na respetuhin natin ang proseso. Let it run its course but he is not conceding,” Abby said.
(It’s not my dad’s habit to concede. What he is only saying is for us to respect the process. Let it run its course but he is not conceding.)
In a statement late Monday, Binay said he would wait for the final count after the unofficial count from the Commission on Elections server showed him well behind the frontrunner, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
READ: Binay refuses to concede, seeks support from fraternity brods
“I have repeatedly called for respecting institutions and the democratic process. Once the process is completed, we should always respect the outcome. We should all move towards healing and unity for our divided land,” Binay said.
Binay left the party headquarters in New Horizon Hotel Tuesday midnight looking defeated and depressed, consoled by his brothers in the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity, who sang to him their toast song.
Binay later accompanied Abby in her proclamation as winning Makati mayor over Kid Peña.
READ: Makati stays in Binay hands
Abby’s husband Luis Campos was also proclaimed as Makati representative, taking over the seat vacated by his wife.
Earlier, Binay’s spokesperson Atty. Rico Quicho said it was still “mathematically possible” for the vice president to win.
READ: UNA: It’s still ‘mathematically possible’ for Binay to win
Communications director Joey Salgado also accused the Liberal Party of disenfranchising voters in Binay’s bailiwicks.
READ: UNA claims pro-Binay voters disenfranchised
Administration candidate Mar Roxas and Sen. Grace Poe have conceded defeat after the unofficial count placed them at second and third, respectively. CDG/rga
