Rivals concede defeat to Aquino

Manila: Five presidential candidates on Tuesday conceded defeat a day after Monday's balloting as Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III maintained a wide lead over former President Joseph Estrada.

First to throw in the towel was Aquino's fiercest rival, former Senate President Manuel Villar who congratulated the Liberal Party standard bearer in a press conferece on Tuesday morning.

"I now face you all to admit my defeat. I congratulate Senator Noynoy Aquino on his victory. The challenges he and our country face are enormous and we should all work together," he said.

Later in the day, Senator Richard Gordon, Olongapo City Councilor JC de los Reyes, evangelist Eddie Villanueva and former defence secretary and Aquino's second cousin Gilberto Teodoro Jr followed suit.

While saying that he's no longer expecting to win, independent candidate Nicanor Perlas refused to acknowledge Aquino as winner "as he is not yet clearly president," a Philippine Daily Inquirer report said.

Remain vigilant

Appearing in his first press briefing after the elections, the 50-year-old Aquino — only son of martyred hero Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr and former president Corazon C. Aquino — tried to downplay his imminent victory as he called on his supporters to remain vigilant as his running-mate, Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas is trailing surprise frontrunner, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

"There will be time for celebrations," said Aquino, adding, "Every vote for Mar should be counted fairly and honestly. Our commitment to get integrity from this election was and remains that the vote of each and every Filipino be counted fairly and honestly."

Asked by a reporter whether he can work with Binay — a close ally of his mother — in case the mayor scores an upset, Aquino said he still prefers Roxas to be his vice-president.

"With Mar, the division of labour is clear. The coordination is clear. That will not be present with me and Binay at the onset, even if he is my friend. It's not sure that we will have the same view. So we will still have to bond.

"What Mar and I went through during the entire process of the campaign has further strengthened our partnership," Aquino said.

Looking forward, Aquino said: "I ask each of my supporters to join me in this task. Today, we feel the weight of the nation's expectations on our shoulder. Let us overcome the divisions that afflict us today."

Special operations

Binay, who is Estrada's running-mate, claimed they received reports that voting results will be rigged in certain areas in southern Philippines in favour of Roxas..

"We sincerely hope that this report, if true, is not in any way connected with the information we received about a plan to conduct special operations in these areas," said Binay's spokesperson Lito Anzures.

Earlier, Villar of the Nacionalista Party said in a press conference, he hopes to someday clear his name of accusations hurled against him during the heated campaign period.

"I believe that someday, I will be given the chance to clear my name before our countrymen. That is most important to me now."