Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was proclaimed the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines on Wednesday after Congress, acting as the National Board of Canvassers, pronounced him the winner of the Eleksyon 2022 presidential election.
In addition, Congress named Marcos’ running partner, President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, as the new vice president.
Bongbong Marcos, who ran under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and campaigned on a message of unity, received 31,629,783 votes in the presidential election.
Duterte was elected with 32,208,417 votes.
Marcos and Duterte are the first tandem to be elected to the country’s top two elective seats since then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Senator Noli De Castro were declared winners in 2004.
“The most valuable thing you may receive from a fellow citizen is their vote,” the new president said.
“And that is why, to have received over 31 million votes from our countrymen is as valuable expression of trust as can be had by anyone in public life. And so for that I thank our people,” he added.
“Beyond that, I promise you that we may not be perfect but we will always strive to perfection. Thank you very much,” Marcos said.
Bongbong Marcos proclaimed as 17th president of the Philippines
Marcos requested prayers, saying he wanted to perform well for the country.
“But also embedded in that vote are the trust and the confidence that they give to you to take them to that aspirational future,” Marcos said.
“So I ask you all, pray for me, wish me well. I want to do well because when a president does well, the country does well. And I want to do well for this country,” he added.
Bongbong Marcos will be the first president elected by a majority vote since his father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, was toppled in the EDSA Revolution.
Duterte, on the other side, received a 61 percent majority.
In the recent election, it only took two days to count the votes for president and vice president.
Bongbong Marcos was with his wife, attorney Liza Araneta-Marcos, his son Simon, and his mother, Imelda Marcos, who used to be First Lady.
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