News
Otso Diretso’s Bam Aquino concedes defeat

Despite not being able to secure a Senate seat, he said, “buo pa rin ang tiwala ko sa Kanyang plano para sa akin at higit sa lahat, para sa ating Bayan (I still fully trust His plans for me, and most especially, for our country).” (File photo: Bam Aquino/Facebook)
Opposition reelectionist Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV accepted on Wednesday, May 22, his defeat in the recent midterm elections, but stressed that his love for his fellow Filipinos and desire to serve them won’t stop.
“Hindi man tayo pinalad na makakuha ng pangalawang termino, hindi mauubos ang pagmamahal ko sa ating mga kababayan at kagustuhang manilbihan sa kapwa, bagkus sa ibang larangan naman (Even though we are unfortunate in being unable to get a second term, my love for our fellow Filipinos and will to serve them won’t stop; instead in another field),” Aquino said in a statement.
Even before May 13, Aquino said he has entrusted the results of the election to the hands of God. Despite not being able to secure a Senate seat, he said, “buo pa rin ang tiwala ko sa Kanyang plano para sa akin at higit sa lahat, para sa ating Bayan (I still fully trust His plans for me, and most especially, for our country).”
“Napakalaking karangalan ang manilbihan sa taumbayan kaya’t lubus-lubos ang pasasalamat ko sa mga nakatrabaho at sumuporta sa akin sa loob ng anim na taon at sa mga walang pagod na nangampanya nitong nakaraang mga buwan (It is a great honor to serve the Filipino people so I thank my colleagues who supported me for six years and those who tirelessly campaigned for me in the past few months),” he added.
Aquino said this shortly before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaim the winning senators at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
Aquino, who was the Otso Diretso’s hope to enter the “Magic 12,” landed on the 14th spot based on the poll body’s final and official count, earning 14,144,923 votes. He followed reelectionist Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito who got 14,313,727 votes.
Aquino won as senator in 2013, placing seventh with 15.5 million votes.
