MANILA — Less than three hours since the release of the initial results of the presidential elections, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. delivered his “address to the nation,” urging his supporters to continue trusting him.
While acknowledging that the vote count for the presidential race is not yet final, Marcos Jr. said his gratitude towards those who supported him “cannot wait.”
“Kagaya ng aking sinabi, hindi pa tapos ang bilang. Marami na ang nagsasabi na tapos na pero hindi pa talaga kaya antayin natin hanggang maliwanag na maliwanag, mag-100 percent ang pagbilang,” Marcos Jr. said in a speech delivered at his headquarters in Mandaluyong City late Monday night.
“Ngunit kahit hindi pa tapos nga ang pagbilang, hindi makapag-antay ang aking pasasalamat sa inyong lahat — ang aking pasasalamat sa lahat ng tumulong, sa lahat ng sumapi sa aming ipinaglaban, sa inyong sakripisyo, sa inyong trabaho at sa binigay ninyo sa amin na oras, na kakayahan,” he added.
As of 8:02 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, partial and unofficial results from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) show Marcos Jr. leading the presidential race with 30,505,036 votes.
In distant second place wais Vice President Leni Robredo who garnered 14,539,334 votes. They were followed by Senator Manny Pacquiao (3,511,608 votes), Manila City mayor Isko Moreno (1,854,653 votes), and Senator Ping Lacson (869,864 votes).
“Any endeavor as large as this, does not involve one person. It involved very very many people, working in very very many different ways,” Marcos Jr. said.
“And to all of them, I thank you. Let us keep watch on the vote, kung tayo’y palarin, aasahan ko na ang inyong tulong ay di magsawa, ang inyong tiwala ay di magsawa dahil marami tayong gagawin dito sa ating hinaharap,” he added.
In the same speech, Marcos Jr. said that the support he gained from the public is the most important thing he gained from the presidential campaign.
“Bukod pa doon ay magpapasalamat ako sa mga kababayan ko na nandiyan sila at nagsuporta sila hindi lamang sa mga kandidato, hindi lamang sa aming partido kung hindi sa magandang bukas ng ating minamahal na Pilipinas,” Marcos Jr. said.
“Yan sa akin ang pinakamahalaga na aking makukuha dito sa kampanyang ito kaya’t ako’y nagpapasalamat sa inyong lahat,” he added. (Neil Arwin Mercado ©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2022)
