MEMBERS of the House of Representatives and the Senate reconvened in a Joint Public Session on Wednesday and proclaimed former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Zimmerman Duterte as the duly-elected President and Vice President of the Philippines during the May 9, 2022 general elections.
The proclamation was done at the House Plenary Hall after the lawmakers approved during the Joint Public Session the Joint Committee Report of the Joint Canvassing Committee and its accompanying Resolution of Both Houses No.1, proclaiming the candidates obtaining the highest number of votes in the presidential and vice presidential race. RBH No. 1 is entitled “Resolution of Both Houses, Approving The Report of the Joint Committee Declaring The Results of The National Elections Held on May 9, 2022 For The Office of The President and Vice President, Proclaiming The Duly Elected President and Vice President of the Philippines.”
Both House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, the co-chairmen of the Joint Canvassing Committee, in their sponsorship speeches gave their observations about the last elections, describing it as “peaceful, expeditious and orderly.”
They also thanked their fellow lawmakers for their participation in the canvassing.
Romualdez said the Joint Canvassing Committee convened on May 24 to canvass the votes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates in the May 9, 2022 polls.
After just a day, he said the task was fulfilled.
He cited that President Marcos topped the presidential race by a wide margin, earning 31,629,783 votes or 58.77 percent of the total votes cast.
Likewise, he said Vice President Duterte, topped the vice presidential race with 32,208,417 votes or 61.53 percent of the total votes cast.
Meanwhile, prior to the adjournment of the Joint Public Session, House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco congratulated the country’s two highest officials.
He also thanked the Joint Canvassing Committee for the swift and fair canvassing that guaranteed the people’s faith in the electoral process.
“Thank you to all the Honorable members of the Joint Canvassing Committee and the Secretariat for your hard work and invaluable support in ensuring a historic canvassing that was finished in two days,” the Speaker said. Senate President Vicente Sotto III congratulated both President Marcos and Vice President Duterte. “Congratulations, you have been placed by God in this position for a reason. May He lead you into your purpose and may you live it courageously in every step you take,”Sotto said.
