Macalintal concedes as opposition tanks in unofficial tally

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal (File photo by JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Opposition senatorial candidate and veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal conceded his defeat on Tuesday, his office confirmed.

Macalintal ranked 26th with 3,850,467 votes as of the 8:15 a.m. partial and unofficial tally of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV)-Inquirer Transparency Server.

“Thank you for this great opportunity and rewarding experience to offer my services to all of you as a public servant in the Senate,” the contender said in a statement.

“But from the results coming from all the clustered precincts, it is clear that a great majority of our voters have chosen other candidates. And I respect their decision as I concede defeat in this senatorial race,” he added.

Macalintal, who is advocating the welfare of senior citizens and persons with disability, is running under the Otso Diretso banner. He is Vice President Leni Robredo’s legal counsel in an ongoing election protest against her.

He also thanked his supporters, wife Mila, and family, Robredo, Otso Diretso’s campaign manager Senator Francis Pangilinan, as well as his fellow opposition candidates.

“Sa ating mga senior citizens at mga persons with disability, salamat sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob ninyo sa akin. Bagama’t hindi ako nagtagumpay, nariyan pa rin ang aking pangako na tatanda at lilipas din ako, ngunit tuloy pa rin ang paglilingkod sa inyo,” Macalintal said.

As of posting, 82,228 of 87,851 or 93.60 percent of nationwide election returns have been transmitted.

Latest tally also bares that no opposition contender has made it to the midterm election’s top 12 senators, while reelectionist Sen. Cynthia Villar leads, followed by reelectionist Sen. Grace Poe and former Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go. (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)

READ: Villar leads Senate race – PPCRV partial unofficial result