VICE presidential candidate “Doc” Willie Ong yesterday urged Filipinos to remain calm as he called on all candidates in yesterday’s national elections to encourage their supporters to accept the outcome of the May 9 polls and not resort to violent acts if their preferred candidates lose.
Ong, who was the running mate of presidential candidate Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, said Filipino voters should not imitate the violent January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol of supporters of defeated former American president Donald Trump.
“Sana maging matahimik ang bayan. Hindi natin alam ang mangyayari especially one day, two days, three days after elections. Siyempre alam niyo naman mangyayari. Sigurado may accusation ng dayaan tapos mag-aaway (I hope the country will remain peaceful. We don’t know what would happen one day, two days, three days after elections. For sure there would be accusations of cheating),” Ong said in a Facebook live video.
“Sana lang mas relaxed ‘yung mga tao, mas kalmado. Huwag natin painitin ang supporters natin para gumawa ng mali. Parang ‘yung nangyari kay President Trump sa US, di ba? May namatay pa (I hope everyone all remain relaxed and calm. Let us avoid doing something that will enrage our supporters to do something that is wrong, just like what happened in the US during President Trump’s term),” he added, referring to the riot of Trump supporters at the US Capitol after he lost the 2020 elections to Joe Biden.
Ong made the appeal several hours after he voted at the Dasmariñas Village Club House in Makati City accompanied by his wife, Liza at past 9 a.m. as he expressed concern that some candidates and their supporters might refuse to accept the outcome of the polls and engage in violence.
He urged the public to pray to continue praying that the canvassing of votes will no longer be marred by violence.
Amid the glitches that hit yesterday’s elections, Moreno urged Filipinos to be patient.
“Mga kababayan, tiyagain natin tutal isang beses lang naman ito sa anim na taon at ito ay hindi tungkol sa akin bilang kandidatong pagka-presidente o sa amin. Ito ay tungkol sa buhay ninyo, sa buhay ng anak ninyo, anim na taon na buhay natin at ng bansa natin kaya tiyagain ninyo (My fellow citizens, be patient. Anyway this happens only once every six years. This is not about me or my presidential candidacy or of the others. This is about you, you children’s future and our country’s future so be patient),” Moreno told reporters in a brief interview after he casted his vote.
He reiterated that this is the reason why he decided to seek the presidency: to lead the country and to give its citizens “peace of mind.”
“Itigil na natin ang away, higantihan at bawian. Ang inaalay ko na nga sa inyo ay peace of mind. Napakahirap hanapin ng peace of mind but today you will find it. Makikita nyo yan sa polling stations ninyo. Tiyagain ninyo. Kaunting sakripisyo lang ito (Let us put a stop to quarrels, feuds and revenge. That is why I offered peace of mind to you. I know it is difficult to find peace of mind but today you will find it in polling stations. Be patient. This is just a small sacrifice),” he added.
The Manila mayor, at 47 the youngest among those seeking the presidency in this year’s polls, stressed he would not fail those who will vote for him if he win the elections.
“Bibigyan ko kayo ng kapanatagan.Hindi ko kayo ipapahiya.Makakapag move forward tayo ng mabilis (I will give all of you peace of mind. I will not fail you. I assure you will be able to move forward),” he added.
Asked for his message to his presidential rivals, Moreno said “I wished them good luck and good health.”
Moreno cast his vote at the Magat Salamat Elementary School in Tondo, Manila at 11 a.m. Monday where he was greeted with cheers by residents. He voted at Room 303 under clustered precinct 0257A.
He inserted his ballot at 11:16 a.m. and was done 15 minutes after arriving in the polling center.
Moreno says he prefers to vote at high noon when the sun is at its peak.
He said he also dropped by the Sto. Nino Parish Church before proceeding to the school to cast his vote.
Prior to Moreno’s arrival, two voting counting machines for precincts 116A, 116B and 117A and 117B malfunctioned. The teacher manning the VCMs said ballots will be temporarily placed inside a box as they await for a technician from the Commission on Elections to fix the problem.
Another VCM encountered a paper jam.
More than 31,000 voters were expected to cast their votes at the same school.
Moreno said that after voting, he would return to his office at the Manila City Hall for some paperwork.
He said he would also spend the day with his family to rest and catch up on some much-needed sleep.
“Excited. Nothing to worry. We leave everything to God. We did our best and we let God do the rest,” Moreno said.
He thanked his supporters who he said never wavered in their support to his and Ong’s candidacy and the three Aksyon Demokratiko senatorial candidates Samira Gutoc, Carl Balita and Jopet Sison and guest candidate John Castriciones.
In a brief Facebook live after he cast his vote, Ong said he prayed and wished for a peaceful conduct of the election.
He also encouraged supporters of the various candidates to do away with acrimony after election is done and unite for the country. “Faith in God lang ang laban natin,” he said.
After voting, Ong and his wife proceeded to the Baclaran Church.
Gutoc meanwhile cast her vote at the Cawayan Elementary School in Marantao, Lanao del Sur while Balita voted at the Quezon City High School.
Sison on the other hand voted at the Ramon Magsaysay High School in Cubao, Quezon City.
