MANILA – Outgoing senators Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito and Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV have conceded their defeats as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) wrapped up its canvassing in the 2019 midterm elections on Wednesday.
In a social media post, Ejercito said he was thankful to be given a six-year term to serve the Filipinos and was glad to be walking away from the Senate with his “integrity intact.”
“Kunin ko na ang pagkakataon magpasalamat sa Sambayanang Pilipino sa pagkakataon na ako ay nakapaglingkod bilang Senador ng ating bansa,” Ejercito said in a Twitter post.
“Isang karangalan na kayo ay paglingkuran. Will be walking away from the Senate with my integrity intact. Salamat po sa pagmamahal!” he added.
Ejercito, whose mother Guia Gomez traced her roots in Bacolod City, principally authored the Universal Healthcare Act, which seeks to give all Filipinos health care coverage and benefits. It was signed into law earlier this year.
Aquino, in a separate statement, also accepted his defeat as he said that his love for his compatriots will not run out.
“Hindi man tayo pinalad na makakuha ng pangalawang termino, hindi mauubos ang pagmamahal ko sa ating mga kababayan at kagustuhang manilbihan sa kapwa, bagkus sa ibang larangan naman,” Aquino said.
He added: “Napakalaking karangalan ang manilbihan sa taumbayan kaya’t lubus-lubos ang pasasalamat ko sa mga nakatrabaho at sumuporta sa akin sa loob ng anim na taon at sa mga walang pagod na nangampanya nitong nakaraang mga buwan.”
Based on the final and official count by the Comelec, Ejercito ended up at the 13th place with 14,313,727 votes, 191,209 votes lesser than 12th placer Nancy Binay, while Aquino is at 14th with 14,144,923 votes./PN
