Panelo urges Duterte rivals to concede his early proclamation

Incoming President Rodrigo Duterte with lawyer Salvador Panelo. INQUIRER.net PHOTO

Salvador Panelo, counsel for the canvassing of votes of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, on Thursday urged the latter’s rivals to concede their right to vote canvassing so that the Congress could focus on the hotly contested vice presidential post.

In a press conference at the House of Representatives, Panelo said the candidates should be statesmanlike by not only conceding defeat but also giving up their constitutional right to have their votes canvassed so that Duterte could already be proclaimed.

Panelo issued the call even though the congressional canvassing for president and vice president is mandated in the 1987 Constitution.

He said that while the canvassing was stated in the Constitution, the charter did not say it was required.

“While it’s true that constitutionally, kailangan ng canvassing, pwedeng i-short cut ’yun ’pag itong apat mag-waive ng right for canvassing,” Panelo said.

Panelo said his suggestion would make it “easier” for  Congress to set aside the canvassing of the presidential votes and give more time to the vice presidential race, where the Liberal Party’s Leni Robredo has a hairline lead over Sen. Bongbong Marcos.

“We’re making the job of the congressional committee easier … kasi ’pag hindi ka pumayag na matigil na ang presidential, ibig sabihin nakatali ka sa vice presidential. Wala kang ma-po-proclaim,” Panelo said.

“Pwede namang hiwalay kung yung apat nga mag-formalize ng kanilang concession na nanalo si Mayor Duterte,” he added.

Panelo said Duterte’s camp took issue over his proclamation being held back because of the objections raised by Marcos’ camp about the certificates of canvass (COC) for vice president.

Although it would take time because Congress would need to canvass separately the presidential and vice presidential votes, Panelo said it would be easier for Congress to proclaim Duterte ahead of the vice president-elect.

Panelo urged Miriam Santiago, the lone presidential candidate who has not conceded, to do so, and the other contenders can formalize their concession in a waiver.

Panelo, who is Duterte’s pick for presidential spokesperson, used to represent the Ampatuan clan in a murder trial over the 2009 Maguindanao massacre, where  58 people were killed and buried in a shallow grave in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao.

The incoming president’s camp wants him to be proclaimed even though Duterte himself does not want to attend his own proclamation in Congress. RC/rga