Honor even in defeat

They may be vanquished, ran over and turned bloodied by the mean campaign machinery of their rivals. But they kept their honor even as they bowed out from the just concluded presidential race with their heads held up high. They conceded defeat to the Liberal Party (LP) candidate, Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III who appeared as the president-elect of our country’s first-ever elections done through automated system.

They are the presidential and vice presidential candidates who did the most honorable thing first thing in the morning on the day after elections: To concede defeat. After the official partial results of the elections came in, they came out one after the other with declaration of their respective acceptance of defeat.

Of course, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) led by chairman Jose Melo was quick to recognize these magnanimous acts made by these candidates as a manifestation of confidence to the results of the generally successful conduct of our country’s first ever automated elections.

Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar was the first to bravely face the media to announce his conceding defeat to the apparent winner of last Monday’s elections. In a hastily organized press conference yesterday morning, Villar said he is respecting the “voice of the people” as expressed in the ballots cast. He congratulated Aquino and appealed to everyone to rally behind the new set of leaders voted into office. As far as the immediate future is concerned, Villar vowed to continue with his advocacy to end poverty in the Philippines through other means outside Malacanang Palace.

He may have been defeated in his presidential bid but Villar still has three years left in his term as Senator along with his vice presidential running mate Sen. Loren Legarda, who also gallantly conceded defeat. As Senators, Villar and Legarda have outstanding track records as diligent and hardworking lawmakers and known to push for their respective legislative agenda that have now become landmark laws of the land.

Even in defeat, Villar showed the true stuff of a good leader that he is. After he cast his vote in his precinct in Las Piñas City, he publicly apologized to his rivals whom he said he might have offended during the campaign. He has only encouraging words to Aquino and made this appeal to him. “The challenges he and our country face are enormous and we should all work together.”

Of all the nine presidential candidates, Villar got the most of the muckraking and black propaganda in media to text blasts where he was tagged as “Villa-rroyo” or administration-backed candidate. Legarda likewise suffered the brunt of nasty text blasts and other sludge that came out during the 90-day campaign period. Following the lead of Villar, Legarda formally accepted her defeat to Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay who is leading in the partial official results of the vice presidential contest.

Taking the cue of Villar, the others followed suit. Ang Kapatiran Party bet JC Delos Reyes sent out his message that he accepts his loss and promised to support the incoming Aquino government, especially on the reforms that he has in common with the LP presidential timber. His running mate Dominador Chipeco also conceded defeat.

Subsequently, Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon of Bagumbayan issued a statement of his congratulations to Aquino for what he called as the latter’s “spectacular victory.” Gordon, though, is still smarting from the pre-election surveys that he blamed for the “uphill battle” he fought during the presidential campaign. Nonetheless, he asked his volunteers and supporters to support also Aquino’s leadership.

Gordon’s vice presidential running mate, former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando quietly accepted his defeat without any fanfare.

Ex-Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. of the Lakas-CMD-Kampi called for a formal press conference also yesterday afternoon and declared his retirement from politics for now, but hastily added he remains an ordinary member of the Lakas-CMD-Kampi. Teodoro is still obviously hurting over the “betrayals” he suffered from his administration allies and partymates but did not elaborate. In conceding defeat, Teodoro congratulated Aquino for his victory and wished his cousin well. He expressed his hopes that Aquino will use the mandate of the majority of the Filipino voters to run a government of justice and not a government of vengeance.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Bangon Pilipinas called a press conference likewise late afternoon yesterday to formally submit himself to the will of the Filipino people. The leader of the Jesus is Lord Movement disclosed he personally called up and congratulated Aquino and told him he is praying for the latter’s success and blessing. Villanueva, who ran and also lost his first presidential bid in the 2004 elections, vowed to help in nation-building and exhorted all “other candidates to also find common grounds to work together for a fresh beginning for the Philippines.”

Villanueva’s vice presidential running mate, former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Perfecto Yasay Jr. likewise quietly accepted his defeat.

As of press time, it’s still a tight race for vice presidential contest between Aquino’s LP running mate Sen. Mar Roxas II and Binay who is the vice presidential candidate of former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). Estrada, along with independent presidential candidates Sen. Jamby Madrigal and Nicanor Perlas have not conceded defeat yet as of press time yesterday. Before he would concede defeat, Perlas said he would like first to see the official numbers of voters disenfranchised in last Monday’s elections.

In an official statement he issued yesterday, Estrada explained his decision to wait for the proclamation by the Comelec of the official results of the elections before making any formal statement of accepting his defeat. Estrada is trailing Aquino by at least 5 million votes based on the partial and unofficial results of the Comelec tally as of press time. “Should the unofficial, partial returns be borne out in the official, congressional canvass, I shall certainly, gladly bow to the sovereign will of the people,” Estrada promised.

If there is one unquantifiable gain that our country derived from our automated elections, it is its having restored honor even in defeat.