MANILA – Presumptive vice president-elect and Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio might miss her proclamation due to her scheduled visit to Western Visayas today.
According to her spokesperson Christina Garcia-Frasco, Duterte-Carpio is set to visit the wake of a supporter in Antique and has scheduled meetings in Iloilo.
“Mayor Inday received information from the legal counsel of Lakas-CMD of a possible date for the proclamation,” Garcia-Frasco said in a statement last night.
“She had earlier set a visit to the wake of a supporter in Antique who was depressed and bullied because of his political preferences and eventually committed suicide. Inday Sara also has meetings in Antique and Iloilo,” she added.
Garcia-Frasco, however, said that Duterte-Carpio would endeavor to attend the proclamation and exert her best to make it on time to Manila for her proclamation.
Based on the 8:30 p.m. Tuesday tally of Congress convening as the National Board of Canvassers, Duterte-Carpio is way ahead in the vice presidential race with 13,225,623 votes.
At far second is outgoing senator Francis Pangilinan with 3,714,278 votes, while Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is at third with 3,360,498.
The senators are targeting to proclaim Duterte-Carpio and presumptive president-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as early as this Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning at the latest.
“I am certain the result of the canvass of this public session will mirror the initial results generated by the Comelec transparency server,” Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday.
Marcos and Duterte were the landslide winners of the presidential and vice presidential races, respectively, based on the unofficial count of the Commission on Elections.
ELECTION-RELATED SUICIDE?
Early this month, Gov. Rhodora Cadiao expressed sadness over the death of a University of Antique student leader.
“I sorrowfully condole with the family of Frederic Mark Bico Alba. He had gone before us too early. Rest assured of my prayers and all-out support in whatever way I can,” according to Cadiao in a public statement issued on May 7.
According to Cadiao, “This experience taught us a terrible lesson; that in the pursuit of supporting ideas, we become monsters that we seek to vanquish. This is sad, terrible, and worthy of utmost condemnation. I say this again and again, we may differ in our expression yet this must not diminish our humanity. Be reminded always that words are powerful, it can drive a person to his grave.”
The 23-year-old Alba was a third year college student. He was found dead in their house in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique town in the morning of May 6.
The San Jose police station launched an investigation although Police Staff Sergeant Albert Talidong, investigator, said foul play was a remote possibility.
The University of Antique also issued a statement.
“We, as a community of the University of Antique, are deeply saddened by the passing of one of our students, Mr. Fredrick Mark Alba. We would like to extend our deepest condolences and express our deep sorrow to his family and friends,” read part of the official public statement signed by Dr. Pablo Crespo Jr., university president, dated May 8.
The university described Alba as “an active student leader (and) a loving friend.”
It refuted “earlier reports and social media posts of the involvement of any of UA’s administration, faculty, or staff.”
It then urged the university community “to please use the power and influence of social media to build and not to destroy, to heal and not to break, to love and not to hurt.”/PN