Duterte’s camp asks Marcos to convince Miriam to concede to avoid delay in the presidential proclamation

Since presidential candidates Grace Poe, Mar Roxas and Jejomar Binay already conceded, Duterte’s camp are waiting for Santiago, who is currently in fifth place, to follow. (Photo: Rody Duterte/Facebook)

MANILA—The camp of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte asked the camp of Senator and vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday to convince Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago to concede to avoid delay of Duterte’s proclamation.

Atty. Salvador Panelo said in a press conference that a possible Constitutional crisis can be avoided if the four presidential candidates will file waiver in favor of Duterte before the Joint Congress now seating as National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

“We are telling the camp of Bongbong Marcos, if he wants a separate canvassing, then he should persuade his running mate, presidential candidate Miriam, to concede. Para matapos na, kasi kung hindi, magtatagal tayo. Hindi mo ma- proclaim yung presidente na overwhelming kasi hindi pa tapos ‘yong canvassing,” Panelo, the incoming presidential spokesperson, told reporters in a press conference.

“Hindi matatapos kasi, simply because nag-oobject sila sa particular canvassing ng COCs [Certificates of Canvass]. O di hihinto yun. Made-delay,” he added.

He clarified that they are not worried but the possibility of having no proclaimed President come June 30 despite having an overwhelming votes may bring a lot of problems to the Filipino people.

He insisted that the camp of Marcos is trying to question several COCs which will automatically cause delay in the proclamation.

The 14-man committee seating as NBOC decided to defer the questioned COCs.

“If they (presidential candidates) will waive their rights in the canvassing, then there is no problem,” he pointed out.

Since presidential candidates Grace Poe, Mar Roxas and Jejomar Binay already conceded, they are waiting for Santiago, who is currently in fifth place, to follow, Panelo said.

He said the legal panel of Duterte will draft a waiver and ask the presidential candidates to sign the document since they have already conceded except for Santiago.

“It could be an act of statesmanship on the part of Miriam kung pumayag siya. Mag-concede na siya para matapos na ang agam-agam sa canvassing para hindi na ma-delay,” he stressed.

According to Panelo, they need a document to be presented to the NBOC and the best document is the waiver signed by the four presidential candidates that they are no longer interested to contest the canvassing.

The waiver, he said, will just formalize their intent not to question the canvassing, telling the NBOC that they are no longer interested to question the COCs.

He added that the camp of Marcos agreed with the idea which was their earlier manifestation with the NBOC to have a separate proclamation.