Manila, Philippines: The Philippine Congress on Monday proclaimed crime-busting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as president-elect and Rep. Leni Robredo as vice president-elect of a country that has been posting high growth rates but remains saddled with poverty, corruption and insurgencies.
“In a record three days, the report of the national canvass showed that Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Leonora Gerona-Robredo obtained the highest number of votes,” Senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr, chair of the Joint Canvass Committee (JCC) that acted as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) said at the Batasan in suburban Quezon City.
Duterte did not attend the ceremony at the House of Representatives, telling reporters earlier he shuns such ceremonial proclamations. He has stayed in southern Davao city, where ambassadors, well-wishers and potential Cabinet members have met him, since the May 9 elections.
Duterte said he finds such occasions “corny” and unnecessary. He said, in his nearly three-decade career as an elected official in Davao City, he had never attended any proclamation rite.
Robredo’s three daughters joined her on stage for the brief ceremony. The House speaker and Senate president raised her hands to proclaim her victory as legislators applauded.
“There’s a tinge of nervousness,” Robredo told reporters earlier. “But maybe it’s more of excitement that I’m being given a rare chance to make a difference.”
In the Philippines, presidents and vice presidents are elected separately, and Duterte and Robredo come from rival parties.
Duterte won by more than 6 million votes over his closest rival, while Robredo finished only about 260,000 votes ahead of second-place candidate Senator Ferdinand Marcos junior Marcos, son of late former dictator Ferdinand Marcos. The latter has alleged election fraud and sought an investigation.
Duterte and Robredo have different styles. The president-elect says his working hours may start at 1pm and run late into the night, while his future vice-president has been known as early riser, visiting far-flung rural villages to check on residents.
They also differ on some key issues, including a long-hanging proposal to bury the elder Marcos in a heroes’ cemetery, which Duterte says he will allow but Robredo opposes.
“Even if I may disagree with some of his views, I will always assure him that he will have 100 per cent of my support,” Robredo said.
The May 9, 2016 elections was the second time that the Philippines held an automated presidential elections. The first was in 2010 when incumbent President Benigno Aquino III was elected to office.
During the proclamation, Representative Jonathan dela Cruz of the ABAKADA partylist questioned the credibility of the elections.
He questioned why Robredo was declared where there are still questions concerning reports of electoral fraud committed to favour her.
Senator Pia Cayetano said the questions from Dela Cruz are expected since he is an “ally” of Marcos.
Duterte and Robredo will officially assume their duties as President and Vice-President on July 1.
