US congratulates

Pinoys on elections ventional \ /isdom of an incurnbent chief

By PIA LEE-BRAGO
executive turning less popular and into
The US embassy in Manila YesterdaY a Dolitical lame duck aftei the midterm
congratulated Filipinos on the comPletion oolls on his or her watch," \tllafuerte said.
of the 2019 midterm elections.
' "The results are actually not surprising
"The campaigning and tumout for the i{ we are to take into consideration the
-iestament thai President Du terte's approval and
elections ar6 a to the PhiliP- fact
pines' vibrant democrary,". the embassy rusl ratinqs remain at record high levels
at this timie when his predecessors saw
said in a statement.
The embassy reiterated the Philippines their ratings rapidly d6cline during this
and the United States' enduring alliance, same midtirm Period," he said.
strengthened by shared commitment to Unlike oresidints before him, the former
democratic values and institutions. mavor of bavao CiW would remain as the
On his Twitter account, US Ambassa-
"nrirst dominant ioice in Philippine poli-
dor Sung Kim congratulated the FiliPinos tics" until he leaves office on June 3O 20?
for the successful elections. Mllafuerte said.
"l congratulate thv FiLipinos on tht'ir He added the
successful elections and Iook torward to apparent opposi-
partnering with your newly elected sena- tion shutout in the
iors, rep.isentatives and provincial and senatorial. race "is a
local leiders," Kim said. resounding vote of
Administration candidates dominate confidence in Presi-
the Senate race. The overwhelming poll dent Duterte that
victorv of senatorial candidates endorsed will give him afresh
bv Pr6sident Duterle and his daughter mandate to push hrr-
Sira was a "vole of confidence" in his thet reforms and ini-
admirristratior! a reftlrrdng administra- tiatives to sustain the
tion congressman said YesterdaY. growth momentum
"The butstanding showing of Presi- and rcduce poverty
dent Duterte and Mavor Sara's senatorial incidence to jusi 14
candidates onJy affiimed the solid sup- percent by 2022."
- "The e Ie ctio n
port of majority of Filipino people to the
President " re-elected Leyte congressman results show that
Martin Romualdez said. the.people want the
'The peoole have witnessed President Senate to remain
Duterte'i clLan, accoDntab)d and trans- supportive of the
Darent sovernment. The President is a reforms and initia-
iro-t orrtttrt" action man and very much tives ihat the Presi-
determined to address graft and comrption. dent wants to push
He issues orders without alibis," he added. in the incoming 18th
Romualdez, who is rrying for the speak- Congress in sup-
ership in the incoming 18th Congress, oort of his inclusive
stress-ed the 9-3 Senate hfnout was defi- lrowth agenda," he
nitely a "vote of confidence and affirma- stressed.
tion of people's continued strong support He pointed out
to Prcsident Duterte's good govemance"' fhaf the victorv of
The next Congress convenes in July and former presiden-
ends in 2022. Romualdez is president of tial special assistant
Lakas-CMD, which is an ally of the ad- Bong Go and former
ministration. He is also president of the Philippine National
Association. Police chief Ron-
-saidConstitution
Philippine
Hi Filioinos are more satisfied ald dela Rosa "is
other govern- glaring proof of the
with Duterte thin with any-knowshow
ment official because he to overwhelming sup-
deal with various concerns and listens to port of the electorate
ordinary folks. for the President."
"Marunong bumaba sa tao si President He noted that
Duterte (The Presidentknows howto inter- other Duterte Per-
act with the masses). He is not an eliG t'?e. sonal senatorial
He is always in touch with the ordinary choices, including
oeonle and ihere is a stable electoral democ- former Metropoli-
iacv underhis administratiorv" Romualdez, tan Manila Devel-
a former three-term congressman, added. opment Authority
\ryith the Senate poised to be dominated (MMDA) chairman
by administration allieq. Presidcnl Duterte Francis Tolentino,
will no longer be a r'r oak leader in hi- re- arc in the Top 10 .1\
maining three years in office, Camarines of the preliminary PAUz - +"
Sur ReJ. Luis Ravmund Villafuerte said. tally. - With Delon
"Presidenl Duierte has bucked t}econ- Porcalla, Jess Diaz