Duterte’s victory ‘milestone for PH democracy’

Presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte speaks during a press conference in Davao City on May 26. AFP

DAVAO CITY—Although the landslide win of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte in the canvassing of votes was a predictable feat, his camp on Friday said his victory remained a significant part of election history in the country.

“Finally victory has been achieved. The official results of 2016 presidential race with Rody Duterte as winner may be anticlimactic, but we should not lose its historic significance,” Duterte’s campaign spokesperson Peter Laviña said in a statement.

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“His victory is the triumph of the people, by the people and for the people. Let us celebrate this milestone of Philippine democracy by uniting and working for genuine change,” Laviña said.

Duterte garnered a total of 16,601,997 votes or 6,623,822 votes far ahead of his rival, Liberal Party’s standard-bearer Mar Roxas.

On the third day of the canvassing of votes, the Congress finished all 166 certificates of canvass from different regions and countries.

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