Image via Official Facebook page of Rody Duterte - The United States congratulates presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte
- The US says it looks forward to working with the new administration
- The US Ambassador to the Philippines also highlighted the record high voter turnout
The government of the United States extended its congratulations to presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte.
In an unprecedented move, the US congratulated Duterte, even before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has officially declared him the winner.
Although about 5 percent of votes cast during the May 9 elections are yet to be transmitted to the COMELEC central server, partial and unofficial votes counted clearly show Duterte leading by at least six million votes from his nearest rival.
In their congratulatory message, the US says it looks forward to working with the next administration of the Philippines.
“The United States offers its sincerest congratulations to the people of the Philippines on the conclusion of the May 9, 2016 general elections, and to the presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte. The United States looks forward to continuing to deepen our bilateral partnership with the new administration as we address common challenges and issues of mutual interest,” the US Embassy in Manila wrote in a statement earlier published by Rappler.
The US State Department recently issued a statement; saying that they respect the choice of the Filipino electorate.
“We look forward to working with and congratulating the winner. Washington respects the choice of the Philippines’ people. We will gladly work with the leader they’ve selected,” said State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau.
The US Ambassador to the Philippines also offered congratulatory messages on social media; highlighting the record high turnout of more than 80 percent.
“Congratulations to presumptive president-elect Rodrigo Duterte & to PH for record voter turn-out.. I congratulate the Filipinos on their exercise of democracy. It reminds the world that PH is such an open & healthy democratic system,” Ambassador Philip Goldberg wrote on Twitter.
Other nations and members of the international community have already extended their congratulations to the country for having elected its new president.
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