5 presidential bets concede defeat, congratulate Noynoy

(Updated 5 - 11:34 p.m.) As the picture of a Noynoy Aquino administration becomes clearer, five of his rivals on Tuesday threw in the towel and congratulated him for what seems like his impending victory. First to admit defeat was Aquino’s colleague in the Senate and fiercest rival to the presidency during the campaign period, Manny Villar Jr. (Nacionalista Party). "Humaharap ako sa inyo ngayon upang tanggapin ang pasyang ito. Upang igalang ang boses ng sambayanang Pilipino (I now face you all to admit my defeat). I congratulate Senator Noynoy Aquino on his victory. The challenges he and our country faces are enormous and we should all work together," he said, reading a prepared statement during a press conference in Mandaluyong City. Villar's move earned him admiration from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
"The commission expresses its deep admiration for Senator Manuel Villar for his act of statesmanship for conceding the elections," said Comelec chairman Jose Melo at a press briefing Tuesday afternoon. Sen. Richard Gordon (Bagumbayan), JC de los Reyes (Ang Kapatiran), Bro. Eddie Villanueva (Bangon Pilipinas), and Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD) followed Villar's steps. In a statement posted on his Facebook account, Gordon congratulated Aquino for his "spectacular victory" and called upon the nation to unite and support the new administration. "We accept the will of the people. Today, we have a victory for democracy with the successful exercise of our first nationwide automated election despite naysayers and doubters," said Gordon. In a text message to reporters, De los Reyes said that although Aquino’s platforms differ from his, he would still "support his government in other reform efforts we have in common." Teodoro, who is Aquino's cousin, said he is happy with the results of the elections, while Villanueva said he informed Aquino through a phone call that he would be praying for his success and blessing. "I will also ask him (Aquino) and the legislators to look into the election laws so that it could be perfected." According to GMA Network's partial and unofficial tally as of 9:12 p.m. on Tuesday, Aquino remained at the top spot with 13,165,343 votes. Villar ranked third with 4,739,299; Teodoro at 4th with 3,509,495; Villanueva at 5th with 985,817; Gordon at sixth with 449,592; and De los Reyes at 9th with 38,194. Second placer Joseph Estrada, who has 8,425,937 votes in the tally, said it is still too early for him to concede. "Lest my silence following the recent presidential elections be misconstrued for conceding the elections to the front runner, I wish to assure the public that while I plan no protest, I am not conceding," he said.
Thank you’s Villar thanked his party mates at the Nacionalista Party and supporters who supported his presidential bid, and said he would continue working for the welfare of the poor. "Bagama’t ako ay hindi pinalad, ang aking pangarap na tapusin ang kahirapan ay hindi pa nagwawakas. Ito ay aking ipagpapatuloy bagama’t sa ibang paraan (Although I didn’t win, my efforts to end poverty in this country will continue)," he said in a sober tone. Villar, a self-made billionaire, also thanked his supporters and volunteers who helped him through the campaign. He, however, expressed sadness about the allegations and negative propaganda that have hounded him throughout his campaign. "Ako ay naniniwala na sa darating na mga araw ako ay mabibigyan ng pagkakataon na linisin ang aking pangalan upang maliwanagan ang ating mga kababayan. Yan ay mahalaga sa akin higit sa anupamang bagay," he said. (I believe that soon I’ll be given a chance to clear my name before the public. That’s the most important thing to me.) Villar smiled but declined to take questions from the reporters, leaving the Nacionalista Party headquarters immediately after the press briefing. Life after campaign Teodoro, a former lawmaker and Defense secretary, said he has no plans of staying in politics, adding that he would rather return to being a family man. “Malaki ang utang ko sa kanila (I now owed a lot to my family). I will go back to being a good husband, a good father," he said. “I have served my country the best I could. I don't think anyone can ask more of me," he added. He also dismissed calls for him to run for senator in the 2013 midterm elections. Teodoro thanked his supporters whom he said did not support him but his idea of national unity and positivism. He said he is not blaming anybody for his defeat. Gordon likewise thanked his supporters, especially his volunteers particularly "those who gave up their limited resources as a manifestation of trust in his brand of leadership and track record." "I ran a very truthful, straightforward and candid campaign and thought we could run on the basis of our platform, track record and volunteerism," he said. — with Carmela Lapeña, Aie B. See, and Kim Tan/LBG/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV