Abella concedes, acknowledges Bongbong as next Philippine president

Presidential candidate Ernesto Abella on Thursday conceded defeat in the 2022 elections three days after the conduct of the May 9 polls, according to his campaign manager Johnwin Dionisio.

In a statement, Dionisio said Abella's camp adheres to the result of the election and recognizes frontrunner former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the “17th president” of the country.

“We respectfully adhere to the results of the election and acknowledge that Mr. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the 17th President of the Philippines,” he said.

“God bless the New Administration, the Filipino People, and the Philippine Republic,” he added.

Abella ranked 7th in the presidential race with 113,238 votes based on partial, unofficial count as of 8:32 a.m. Thursday as shown in the Comelec Transparency Media Server. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News