The Philippine Online Chronicles

Reports circulated earlier today about a statement allegedly made by former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP). formally conceding his presidential bid to President-apparent Senator Noynoy Aquino of the Liberal Party (LP).

In the statement, Estrada said that he “sincerely bow[s] to the will of the people” and that he “extends” his “unqualified support” to Aquino.

“I call on our people to unite and rally behind President-elect Aquino and rise beyond the demands of partisan politics and party loyalties,” he stated.

Retirement

In an article posted on abs-cbnnews.com, Estrada manifested his retirement from politics and showbiz.

“For as long as I'm alive... I will still serve... in a private capacity,” he said in an interview held in London, where he attended the graduation of his daughter Jerika at the American Intercontinental University.

The actor-turned-politician cited his vast experience in politics, from being elected as San Juan Mayor to holding three nationally-elected positions spanning 32 years in office.

He also revealed that he is planning to write an autobiography entitled Memoirs: The Life and Loves of Erap, where he will also reveal his “political mistakes.” He said that he wants to be remembered as a “public servant who championed the cause of the masses.”

Only five left

Aquino currently holds a statistically insurmountable lead of more than five million votes against Estrada, according to the partial and official count by the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) composed of representatives from the Senate and Lower House. As of posting time, Aquino has 14,641,803 votes while Estrada has 9,125,823.

The NBOC, which promised to end the canvassing today and proclaim Aquino tomorrow, awaits five more certificates of canvass (COC) bearing 1.4 million votes. The COCs come from Davao City (580,000 votes), Lanao Del Sur (500,000), Bacolod City (206,000), Eastern Samar (100,000), and Mountain Province (75,000).

The vote-rich COCs can still serve to swing the vice-presidential elections, where PMP candidate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay holds a slim 600,000-vote lead against LP's Senator Mar Roxas. Binay has 14,084,876 votes while Roxas has 13,440,127.

Davao COC deferred

However, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported today that the NBOC deferred that COCs of Davao City because its statement of votes (SOV) was missing. Romeo Macalintal, lawyer of administration candidate Gilberto Teodoro, moved for the deferral.

When asked by House Speaker Prospero Nograles about the missing SOV, Davao City provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) chair Danilo Cullio replied, “I don't know.”

Upon questioning, Cullio said that the PBOC has proclaimed winning local candidates despite the absence of an SOV, which contains the breakdown of votes per precinct. Nograles lost in the mayoralty race of the said city.

However, Commission on Elections commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal said that the Davao City SOV is stored as a soft copy and that a printed copy was not generated on time.

Not conceding?

GMANews.tv reported this afternoon, however, that according to Estrada's son, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and Estrada's spokesperson Margaux Salcedo, the former president has not conceded.

Estrada's official Twitter account reiterates this, saying "President Estrada will respect the results of the canvass but he has not yet conceded. Inquirer.net reporter quote unauthorized, incorrect."