MANILA – Like her running mate presidential candidate Senator Grace Poe, Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero has conceded defeat in the presidential race.
Escudero made his announcement in his home province in Sorsogon on Tuesday morning, eight hours after Poe conceded to frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
“Tinatanggap ko ng buong pagpapakumbaba ang resulta ng halalan. Naging malaking karangalan sa akin na makatrabaho lahat ng nakatrabaho at nakasama ko nitong nakaraang buwan kaugnay ng halalan na ito,” Escudero told the media interview.
With Escudero 4,562,806 votes, Escudero is currently in fourth place behind fellow candidate from Bicol congresswoman Leni Robredo (13,251,341), Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (13,124.911), and Senator Alan Cayetano (5,421,493 votes).
Escudero congratulated Duterte and encouraged his supporters to support whoever wins the elections.
“Binabati ko si Mayor Duterte at sa dikitan laban sa ikalawang pagkapangulo, binabati ko sino man sa kanila manalo pero syempre mas ninanais ko na ang kababayan ko kung may mananalo,” Escudero said.
Escudero did not name names but two other vice presidential aspirants Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Gringo Honasan are also from Bicol but currently in fifth and sixth spot with 792,778 and 711,450 votes, respectively.
Escudero said he is looking forward “to quieter times” with his wife actress Heart Evangelista and with two children to former wife Christine Elizabeth Flores. His marriage with Flores was annulled in 2012.
Based on partial and unofficial results, Duterte is enjoying over six million votes over second running Mar Roxas who has 9,112,889 votes followed by Poe with 8,492,261 votes, Jejomar Binay with 5,036,060 votes and Miriam Defensor Santiago with 1,363,144 votes.
Both Poe and Escudero have three years left to serve as senators, promising to help the next administration in their capacity as legislators.