By Genalyn Kabiling
Malacañang has deplored the vote-shaming carried out by some groups who refuse to accept defeat of their candidates in the midterm elections.
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar
(ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said demeaning fellow voters as “bobotantes” was wrong, as he appealed to the public to take the high road and rise above “partisan and divisive politics.”
"We find it unfortunate that some quarters who could not accept the crushing defeat of their senatorial candidates would resort to ad hominem arguments, such as vote shaming, to stress their points," Andanar said.
"Questioning or putting doubt on the 'intelligence' of the Classes D and E voters, derisively referred to as 'bobotantes,' is simply wrong," he added.
Andanar also defended former police chief Ronald dela Rosa from criticisms about his capability in becoming a senator. Dela Rosa is among the administration senatorial candidates who landed in the Magic 12 based on partial and unofficial count of the ballots.
"Laughing off and casting aspersions on the ability of presumptive Senator Ronald dela Rosa because of a post-election interview is counterproductive," he said.
"Let us take the high road, like the commendable appeals made by Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Risa Hontiveros, and rise above partisan and divisive politics," he added.
Andanar also urged poll winners to be magnanimous in victory while those who lost to accept defeat. He said the nation must learn from the lessons of the healthy democratic exercise.
"For the winners, this is the time to reach out, express gratitude, and work double time to bring about the meaningful changes that were promised during the campaign. Let us be magnanimous in our victory," he said.
"On the part of the political opposition and the Left-leaning partylist groups, this occasion calls for acceptance of their electoral loss and start to re-assess the strategies that did not work," he said.
He also called on government leaders, including the newly elected officials, to render genuine and efficient public service.
"As President Rodrigo Roa Duterte used to say, we are government workers and we are here to serve the Filipino people. They deserve no less,” he said.