'That's life': Mar Roxas accepts defeat in 2019 polls

MANILA, Philippines — As the Commission on Elections declares the new set of senators after the 2019 midterm elections, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas has conceded defeat.

Final and official results of the recent polls showed that Roxas placed 16th in the 12-seat senatorial race with 9,843,288 votes.

"Well, we didn't make it. Disappointing and sad but ganyan talaga ang buhay (life is like that)," Roxas said in a statement released Wednesday.

Following his second defeat in two consecutive elections, the former Aquino Cabinet member expressed gratitute to all those who supported his bid to return to the Senate. Roxas lost his presidential bid to President Rodrigo Duterte in the 2016 general elections.

Roxas served in the Senate from 2004 to 2010, before running for vice president in the 2010 elections, where he lost to Jejomar Binay.

"I want to thank you all, each and every one of you for all your hard work and support. But most of all, I want to thank you for believing — in me, in our values and principles, and in the idea that we as a people, and the Philippines, are and can be better than where we are, that our future is and can be brighter than our today," Roxas said.

The former DILF chief remains uncertain on his future plans amis his failed Senate comeback attempt.

"I don't now what comes next. For now, I encourage you to do do what I'm going to do — hug my family, nurture them, learn some more, work some more, love some more... in short, try to live life to the fullest," he said.

No seats for 'Otso Diretso'

None of the opposition coalition Otso Diretso's eight senatorial bets entered the winning circle in the latest elections.

Sen. Bam Aquino almost came close, settling at the 14th spot with 14,144,923 votes.

Roxas, perceived to be the slate's candidate with the best chance of making it to the Senate, was noticeably absent from Otso Diretso events.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party (LP), handed in his letter of resignation to party chairperson Vice President Leni Robredo following the defeat of opposition bets. Rep. Kit Belmonte (Quezon City), also filed his resignation as LP secretary general.

Robredo, however, did not accept the resignation of Pangilinan and Belmonte.

"Much work remains to be done, and they will do it, together," lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo's spokesperson, said.