Jinggoy concedes defeat in 2019 Senate race

Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada on Friday conceded defeat in the 2019 midterm elections.

In a statement, Estrada thanked those who supported and voted for him.

"Bagamat hindi po tayo pinalad na makapasok sa magic 12, ayon sa unofficial count ng Comelec at mga VCMs (vote counting machines), tatanawin ko pa rin ng malaking utang na loob sa inyo ang ipinakitang suporta sa akin lalong lalo na ang masang Pilipino na kahit kailan hindi po ako iniwanan," Estrada said.

As of the the latest partial, official count of the National Board of Canvassers, composed of the Commission on Elections chairman and commissioners, Estrada ranked 15th garnering 8,654,021 votes.

The canvassed votes were from 107 electronically transmitted certificates of canvass across the country and Philippine posts abroad.

Based on unofficial count from Comelec's transparency server, Estrada was also on 15th place as of Friday morning with 97.88% of election returns processed.

In his statement, Estrada urged neophyte senators to do what they had promised to the public during the campaign period.

"Sa lahat ng neophyte senators na nagwagi, Sens. Bong Go, Bato dela Rosa, Francis Tolentino at Imee Marcos, nawa'y tuparin ninyo ang inyong mga binitawang pangako," he said.

Estrada also said he would pray for former Senator Ramon Revilla who is now on the 13th spot.

"Sa aking BFF at kakosa na si Sen. Bong Revilla, bagamat matagal tayong nagkasama at ngayon lang tayo maghihiwalay, ipagdadasal ko ang iyong tagumpay sa Senado," he said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News