Rody: Let the Healing Begin Now

Duterte breaches 14-million mark in unofficial tally.

Davao City, Philippines, 02 Sya’ban 1437/10 May 2016 (MINA) – Shortly after casting his vote in the presidential elections where he took an early lead, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte reached out to his rivals yesterday, urging them to “forget about the travails” of the polls and help him “begin the healing now.”

“I would like to reach out my hands to my opponents,” Duterte said after casting his vote at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Matina.

The controversial foul-mouthed mayor said the “virulent” campaign season should not stop them from mending fences and helping one another in nation building, Philstar was quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting. .

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Initial tally showed him leading by a wide margin, followed by Sen. Grace Poe, Manuel Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

“Let us be friends,” he said, addressing his rivals in the race, even as he expressed confidence of getting elected as next president. While relishing the thought of not having lost previous elections, Duterte said yesterday’s elections could turn out differently. “Maybe this time (I may lose), if it’s God’s will,” he said. “But If I win I’ll do my job,” he stressed.

The leading presidential candidate also said he was sending his best wishes to Binay whose camp had announced plans to release a victory speech.

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“Binay has always been optimistic about his victory. I sent him my best wishes that his victory did not go to waste,” Duterte said.

The mayor explained everybody is entitled to his or her own conclusion about the election.

“Maybe he thinks all of it is in his favor. Let him be. Kanya-kanya ang tao eh,” Duterte said.

In Manila, Duterte’s runningmate Sen. Alan Cayetano also said he was confident of winning in the elections despite his low survey ratings. He also praised the Comelec for the swifter pace of the polls.

“I am confident Mayor Duterte will win and I’m confident that I have great chances given the last few days … as I said, nasa kamay ng Diyos ‘yan (it’s in God’s hands),” Cayetano said.
Partial, Unofficial Election Results

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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is leading the presidential race, reaching more than 14 million votes as of 12:55 a.m., according to the partial, unofficial tallies transmitted by the Commission on Elections transparency servers.

The unofficial results of the presidential race were:
Rodrigo Duterte: 14,036,118
Manuel Roxas II: 8,365,853
Grace Poe: 7,940,520
Jejomar Binay: 4,732,796
Miriam Defensor-Santiago: 1,308,221
Unofficial results of the vice presidential race are as follows:
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.: 12,418,933
Leni Robredo: 12,234,530
Alan Peter Cayetano: 5,001,764
Francis Escudero: 4,227,417
Antonio Trillanes IV: 731,838
Gregorio Honasan II: 648,576. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)