Manila (AsiaNews) - At nearly 3 am Thursday morning, Congress proclaimed incumbent President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her party member, broadcaster Noli de Castro, President and Vice President of the country. Macapagal-Arroyo is the official 14th president of this Asian country, originally sworn-in as president in January 2001, after the ouster of former President Joseph Estrada.
The Joint Canvassing Committee submitted their report to Congress yesterday, stating that Ms. Arroyo won over close competitor, Fernando Poe Jr., with about a million votes. After lengthy deliberations, Congress proclaimed Arroyo's presidency, with her in attendance.
In her written speech delivered to the media, President Arroyo urged her detractors to unite with her for the sake of the country. "This is the time for forgiveness and letting go of the past. National interest demands solidarity."
Opposition leaders, however, maintain that Fernando Poe Jr. won over Arroyo with over 500,000 votes. During the counting of the 176 Certificates of Canvass (COCs) earlier, they insisted that 25 COCs, said to have been manipulated to benefit the incumbent President, be thoroughly investigated. Their requests were turned down by the majority of administrative officials.
President Arroyo will be officially proclaimed at the Luneta Park on June 30, and will afterwards fly to Cebu City for a grand celebration.
Archbishop Capalla, head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, together with the other 120 Filipino bishops, will release an official statement on the election results after the permanent council meets in early July (S.E.)