Presidential bets throw in towel

Presidential bets throw in towel
By Charley Braga, Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Bagumbayan Party bet Richard Gordon and Ang Kapatiran Party candidate JC delos Reyes have also conceded after Manny Villar announced Tuesday he was quitting the race in favor of Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III.

Gordon accepted defeat in a statement he posted in his website http://bit.ly/c1i6eV.

"I would like to congratulate Sen. Aquino for his spectacular victory. I call upon this nation to unite and support him. I would like to thank everyone who supported me especially my volunteers and those who gave up their limited resources as a manifestation of trust in my brand of leadership and track record," Gordon said.

"I ran a very truthful, straightforward and candid campaign and thought we could run on the basis of our platform, track record and volunteerism. I would like to congratulate all the winners and pray that they serve our country well. We accept the will of the people. Today, we have a victory for democracy with the successful exercise of our first nationwide automated election despite naysayers and doubters. The fight for this country goes beyond this day. Let us forge on in building a Bagumbayan foe our people," Gordon added.

Meanwhile, Delos Reyes declared: “I have conceded as to the electoral count but not to the platform I was tasked to push which is to finally enact the anti-dynasty law and abolish pork barrel."

He said that while Senator Aquino "is not one with us in these radical reforms we need for our country, but I will support his government in the other reform efforts we have in common. We [will] continue the good fight.”

Delos Reyes claimed to be the only presidential candidate who sought to have a political dynasty legislation enacted.

“I believe the ones who should sacrifice here and now are the ones that come from political dynasties,” he said.

“It’s time to challenge the establishment of so-called leaders, and we hope that Filipinos will heed the call," he said.