Macalintal concedes as Otso Diretso bets face headwinds in Senate race
MANILA, Philippines — Veteran election lawyer Romy Macalintal — who ran under the Otso Diretso slate — accepted defeat in the Senate race Tuesday, as his fellow opposition bets struggle to enter the Magic 12.
With 93% of election returns counted, Macalintal ranked 26th as of 7:40 a.m. with 3.8 million votes, making him among the first senatorial candidates to concede defeat.
“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,” Macalintal said in a statement.
“I sincerely congratulate all the winners who were so fortunate to get the trust and confidence of the people to serve for six years as their Senators,” he added.
The lawyer represents Liberal Party stalwart and Vice President Leni Robredo in the electoral protest filed by defeated vice presidential candidate and former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The Presidential Electoral Tribunal is conducting a ballot recount on Marcos' selected pilot provinces.
Macalintal earlier said he would push for the rights of senior citizens and persons with disabilities if elected senator. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral
RESULTS: The Senatorial Race
Updates on the senatorial race following the May 13 midterm elections in the Philippines.
(Photo by The STAR/Michael Varcas)
The Commission on Elections has officially proclaimed the following elected senators:
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Cynthia Villar
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Grace Poe
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Bong Go
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Ronald dela Rosa
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Sonny Angara
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Lito Lapid
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Imee Marcos
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Francis Tolentino
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Koko Pimentel
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Bong Revilla
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Nancy Binay
The final and official tally of votes shows that nine of President Rodrigo Duterte's allies candidates won a seat at the upper house.
.@COMELEC chief Sheriff Abas thanks the poll body’s personnel as well as its partners for the “successful” conduct of #Election2019.
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) May 22, 2019
“The public has asked a lot from us. I’m proud to say we have delivered what is needed.” | via @gaeacabico #SenateRace pic.twitter.com/U5Xcadx7o5
The Commission on Elections is set to proclaim the winning senators and party-lists today.
The proclamation comes nine days after the 2019 midterm polls. The National Board of Canvassers ended the canvass late Tuesday.
With only two certificates of canvass left for the National Board of Canvassers to tally, the board suspends its session on Monday and will resume canvassing on Tuesday morning.
Comelec said the COCs from the Philippine embassies in Saudi Arabia and in Washington account for 555,092 votes.
The board has canvassed 165 of 167 COCs and the Comelec expects to hold proclamations of winning candidates on Tuesday.
Canvassing resumes Monday night.
The National Board of Canvassers resumes its session at 8:13 p.m.
— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) May 20, 2019
The board is now tabulating the certificate of canvass from Japan. #Election2019 | @rosette_adel pic.twitter.com/55wAoIzecB
The Commission on Elections said earlier Monday that the proclamation of winners in the senatorial and party-list elections will likely happen on Tuesday.
Party-list proclamations will be in the morning while the country's 12 new senators-elect will be proclaimed in the evening.
Commission on Elections Director Frances Arabe of the commission's Education and Information Department tells reporters that proclamation of winners can be done "early next week" but cannot say for certain if it will be done in one go.
The Comelec has conducted partial proclamations in past elections.
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