Sotto says he ‘accepts the will of the people’

Vice presidential candidate and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said he already accepts the "will of the people" even if the official canvassing of votes has yet to commence.

According to partial and unofficial count of votes as of 10:17 a.m. Tuesday based on 96.82% of the nationwide election returns as shown in the Comelec Transparency Media Server, Sotto ranks third behind leading vice presidential bet Sara Duterte and Senator Francis Pangilinan with 8,117,583 votes.

Duterte has 31,108,575 votes while Pangilinan has 9,126,277.

"The people have made their choice. I accept the will of the people," Sotto said in a statement.

"We presented an alternative for a better system in governance and politics but the electorate had their minds conditioned elsewhere," he added.

The Senate president took pride in their word of honor and their integrity amid political pressures.

"Our word of honor and loyalty are of far greater importance than an election win. I am glad that I did not yield to any political pressure to change my principles and kept my integrity intact till the end," Sotto said.

While the new president and vice president have yet to be officially proclaimed, Sotto wished his fellow candidates well.

"Godspeed to our new President and Vice President and I quote from the Holy Book, JOSHUA 24:15, 'But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD,'" he ended.

Sotto ran alongside presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson. — RSJ, GMA News