Former Akbayan Representative Walden Bello is asking Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. to “recognize the facts and formally concede” to Liberal party Vice Presidential bet Leni Robredo.
Bello believes that by conceding, “Bongbong will contribute immeasurably to a smooth, post-election transfer of power.”
The vice presidential battle between Leni Robredo and Bongbong Marcos still awaits the final count, with Robredo maintaining a slight lead according to the latest reports. In the latest unofficial tally as of as of 5:50pm today, Robredo garnered 13,668,242 votes or a lead of 212,745 votes against Marcos’s 13,455,497 votes. The results represent 93.28% percent of the nationwide election returns from the Commission on Elections.
Bello, 69, is a global activist, author, academic, political analyst and a former Aquino ally when he resigned as representative of the progressive party-list group Akbayan in March after nearly 5 years in Congress. He accused Aquino of a “brazen cover-up” of the January 25 Mamasapano tragedy, differing with Akbayan which remains allied with the administration.
WALDEN BELLO’S STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION WIN OF REP. LENI ROBREDO
With over 92.7 percent of the precincts reporting, Leni Robredo’s lead over Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., has widened over the last few hours. The trend is solid and unmistakable. Congresswoman Robredo is the country’s vice-president elect.
We would like to congratulate her on this hard-won victory.
Senator Marcos put up a good fight, but it is time he recognizes the facts and formally concedes to Leni.
Holding off on making a concession statement would not be in the interest of political stability and national harmony. By conceding at this point, Bongbong will contribute immeasurably to a smooth, post-election transfer of power.”
