Marcos, Duterte Proclaimed Winners of Elections

The Philippines’ path for the next six years is now set in stone as former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday Sara” Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio are proclaimed as the next President and Vice President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Marcos and Duterte were proclaimed during the joint session of the Senate and the House, which acted as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), approved the joint canvassing committee report and adopted the resolution of the two chambers in proclaiming the elected winners of the 2022 national elections.

Marcos won in a landslide against Vice President Leni Robredo who placed second in the election, with Marcos garnering 31,629,783 votes–having a lead of over 16 million votes over Robredo.

Meanwhile, Duterte got even more votes than Marcos with 32,208,417 votes, according to the official count by the NBOC. Duterte enjoyed an overwhelming 22 million vote lead over Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan who is in second place.

This year’s national election is the fastest in terms of the transmission of election returns and the proclamation, with having the highest voter turnout, according to the Commission on Elections, with House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez saying that the voter turnout is a sign that the democracy of the country is “alive and vibrant.”

The Marcos family is in good spirits following Bongbong’s proclamation, with Senator and Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation Chairman Imee Marcos saying in an ambush interview that the wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, former First Lady Imelda Marcos was “excited.”

“Siyempre ‘yung nanay ko sobrang excited niya at tuwang-tuwa siya sa mga pangyayari. She is suddenly able to hear, to walk, lahat ng sakit-sakit noong panahon ng COVID-19, lahat ng nararamdaman biglang nawawala! Maliksing-maliksi, at parang hindi na siya ulit 92, kundi 29, (Of course my mother was very excited and very happy with what is happening. She is suddenly able to hear, to walk, and all of the ailments during the time of COVID-19, all that she’s feeling was suddenly gone! She’s very agile, and it seems like she’s not 92 anymore, but 29),” Imee said.

Moreover, the Marcos family is hoping that the president-elect’s inauguration will be held at Quirino Grandstand.

“Sentimentally, my family would prefer, of course, the Quirino Grandstand. It holds great memories for my family, having been the venue of my dad’s inauguration,” Imee Marcos added.

Suggestions for the venue of the president-elect’s inauguration include Fort Santiago, and inside the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace.

Imee, however, said that her sister, Irene Marcos-Araneta, would prefer an outdoor venue.

“Pero yung sister ko, hangga’t maari, outdoor sana, (However, my sister said, as much as possible, an outdoor venue would be preferable,)” Imee Marcos added.

Vice President-elect Sara Duterte, on the other hand, announced earlier that her inauguration is scheduled for June 19. (GFB)