Bongbong Marcos, Sara Duterte Proclaimed as President, VP-Elect
(UPDATE) Former Sen. Bongbong Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio were formally proclaimed on Wednesday as the 17th president and 15th vice president of the Philippines after pulling a landslide win in the May 9 elections, based on the official count of Congress.
Marcos garnered a total of 31,629,783 votes, while Duterte-Carpio got 32,208,417 votes based on 171 out of 173 certificates of canvass verified and canvassed by the Senate and the House of Representatives jointly sitting as National Board of Canvassers for the presidential and vice presidential race.
READ: By the Numbers: Bongbong Marcos Heads to Landslide Win
In a short statement to reporters after his proclamation, Marcos said he was humbled by the votes given to him by the Filipinos.
"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. Beyond that, I promise you that we may not be perfect but we will always strive to perfection," Marcos said.
"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.
With over 31 million votes, Marcos is the first president to receive a majority mandate from the electorate since 1986, the year his family was forced into exile after the first People Power Revolution.
Along with Duterte-Carpio, they are the first tandem to be elected together since 2004, and the first pair whose fathers were also elected as president of the Philippines.
The Congress is mandated under the Constitution to canvass the votes for the two highest government positions. But the process did not go without a hitch, as the canvassing of votes in at least several areas were deferred after the certificates of canvass were not found inside their ballot boxes.
These areas include Surigao del Sur, Pampanga, Sultan Kudarat, Mandaluyong, Sulu, and Manila.
Vice President Leni Robredo's team moved to expedite the canvassing of votes , posing no objection to the inclusion of all certificates of canvass.
Weeks before his proclamation, Marcos had begun the process of choosing the members of his Cabinet who will serve as his alter-egos in the different affairs of the government.
Among those that have been named are Duterte-Carpio as education secretary, Benhur Abalos as interior secretary, Bienvenido Laguesma as labor secretary, Arsenio Balisacan for socioeconomic planning secretary, and Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla as justice secretary.
READ: Who are Bongbong Marcos' Cabinet Secretaries?
Several world leaders have also earlier extended their congratulatory messages to Marcos, including U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
READ: Marcos Seeks Closer Ties, Cooperation With U.S., Japan, South Korea
Marcos will formally assume the presidency on the noon of June 30, with the details of his inauguration still being finalized.
Duterte-Carpio, on the other hand, is planning to take her oath for vice president on June 19, ahead of her June 30 assumption, as she reportedly wanted to witness her running mate's inauguration.
MORE EXPLAINERS:
The Powers of the Philippine President, Explained
EXPLAINER: Salary, Privileges of the Philippine President
Spare Tire? Here's How Vice Presidents of the Philippines Defined Their Roles