Joint Congress Officially Proclaims Duterte as President-elect and Robredo as Vice President-elect

At exactly 4:10 p.m. Monday, the Joint Congress formally proclaimed Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo as the next Philippine President and Vice President, respectively.

The proclamation came after Congress, sitting as National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) finished the canvassing of votes, with Duterte garnering 16,601,997 votes, and Robredo with 14,418,817.

Duterte won by more than six million votes against his closest rival, former Secretary Mar Roxas, who had only more than nine million votes.

Robredo, on the other hand, won the vice presidency in a tight race after she overtook second placer Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who only posted more than 260,000 votes.

Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. made the joint proclamation following unanimous approval of Resolution of Both Houses 1 declaring Duterte and Robredo as official winners.

True to his earlier pronouncement, Duterte did not show up but vowed to attend his inauguration on June 30. The President elect chose to skip tradition and stayed in Davao City.

He has repeatedly said that he would not attend the proclamation rites because he had never done so in the past elections that he had won, saying attendance of elected officials had never been required.

Duterte has been meeting well-wishers, possible appointees, politicians, and foreign envoys in Davao City since he was presumed the winner.

Robredo was the only one who showed up at the proclamation. She was joined by her daughters Aika, Tricia, and Jillian as well as her supporters.

Before going to the House of Representatives, Robredo attended a thanksgiving Mass at St. Peter Parish Church

Both Duterte and Robredo in 2015 expressed their reluctance to run for the two highest positions in the country. (PNA) RMA/SFM