Hails Romualdez, Zubiri for swift canvass of votes

SPEAKER Lord Allan Velasco has congratulated President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and Vice President-elect Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, and the joint canvassing committee by House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin G. Romualdez and Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

Velasco made the statement after spearheading the joint session of Congress last Wednesday with Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III that adopted the report of the Romualdez-Zubiri joint panel to proclaim Marcos and Duterte as duly-elected president and vice president, respectively.

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our President-Elect, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos, Jr.! Maligayang pagbati po, President BBM! To our Vice-President-elect, Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio, Congratulations Ma’am Inday!” Velasco said following two days of counting, the fastest in Philippine electoral history.

“Congratulations also and thank you to the Joint Canvassing Committee led by House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri for the swift and fair canvassing that guaranteed the people’s faith in our electoral process. Thank you to all the Honorable Members of the Joint Canvassing Committee and the Secretariat for your hard work and invaluable support in ensuring a historic canvassing that was finished in two days,” Velasco said.

“Ngayong araw na ito, Congress bears witness to the unity of our country: a true partnership between the north and the south – that has become the unity of all corners of the country,” Velasco said.

Velasco recalled that Filipinos voted for president and vice president from different parties in previous elections.

“Finally, this year, we will learn the importance of voting for a tandem a Uniteam that can work together, a Uniteam that can collaborate with each other, and a Uniteam that can push for a shared national agenda. The people have spoken decisively. This is not just your sweeping electoral victory. This is an overwhelming victory for all Filipinos. This is a victory of our democracy,” Velasco said.

“The gracious acts extended by the camps of other candidates yesterday (Tuesday), which greatly facilitated our proceedings, show the best of what Filipinos can be, even in the most divisive of elections,” Velasco said.

“Nakikita po natin ngayon ang tunay na lakas sa pagkakaisa at pagsasanib pwersa. We need a catalyst, and there is no better example than the unifying force that we have seen, and we will see, in a government led by President BBM and VP Inday Sara,” Velasco said.

“The Philippines looks forward to your leadership. It is my great honor and privilege to congratulate you both today (Wednesday). Mabuhay po kayo!” Velasco added.

The joint session of Congress presided by Sotto and Velasco on early Wednesday night approved the report of the joint canvassing committee.

Later, they adopted the separate motions of Zubiri and Romualdez to proclaim Marcos and Duterte as winning president and vice president.

The official canvass showed Marcos had 31,629,783 votes, while his closest opponent, Vice President Leni Robredo, had 15,035,773.

In the vice-presidential race, Duterte was credited with 32,208,417 votes against Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s 9,329,207.

The joint canvassing committee took just two days to finish tabulating 171 out of 173 certificates of canvass (COCs) from 81 provinces and independent cities, and those containing absentee local and overseas Filipinos’ votes.

The canvass proceeded smoothly and expeditiously, House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st District Rep. Romualdez reported to the joint session of Congress. By RYAN PONCE PACPACO