Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teddy Locsin said that he’s willing to help Filipinos who wanted to live in another country after the result of the 2019 senatorial election didn’t favor them.

In a tweet, Locsin shared Rappler CEO’s Maria Ressa’s post on how many people are talking about “migrating” as the election results are started to appear.

As a response, Locsin said that he’s willing to make the migrating process faster as part of their job.

“[Department of Labor and Employment Secretary] Bebot Bello and I will help. It’s our job. We will expedite.” Locsin said in his tweet.

Bebot Bello and I will help. It’s our job. We will expedite. https://t.co/O8q5yntXA3

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 14, 2019

Followers of Locsin also shared their comments, saying that Filipinos who decided to migrate could help the Philippines to depopulate and a solution to EDSA traffic.

it would help depopulate the country.

— Joanna Lizares Co (@jolizco) May 14, 2019

This must be the solution to EDSA traffic! ?

— Edu Punay (@edupunay) May 14, 2019

We looked at the trends on Google, showing that the search results in the word “Migrating” suddenly increased.

We also looked on Twitter if some users there really wanted to migrate after they saw the results of the elections.

Nagiisip na ako pano makapag migrate tol

— M (@Ninong_m2) May 14, 2019

I feel u gurl!!! tara migrate :<

— jaaaph (@jeanellaandrea_) May 14, 2019

tara guys, migrate tayo? who's with me? ✋

— sincerely, me (@TheAndradeJ) May 13, 2019

good morning, tara migrate https://t.co/S9spJslqwX

— Anneng (@annbserrano) May 13, 2019

After seeing the senatorial race as of today:

Time to migrate boisz.

— miq (@_reyesmiquel) May 13, 2019

However, some netizens also said that migrating would not solve the problem of the country.

“If you want to migrate bc election results, you are part of the problem,” @klawklawklaw said.

If you want to migrate bc election results, you are part of the problem.

— D&G&R (@Klawklawklaw) May 13, 2019

“It’s so easy to decide to migrate to another country especially with the results of the midterm elections. BUT we should continue to fight the good fight and stay because we can only hope to effect change where we are rooted. May our love for our country never waver.” @diannalouise said.

It’s so easy to decide to migrate to another country especially with the results of the midterm elections. BUT we should continue to fight the good fight and stay, because we can only hope to effect change where we are rooted. May our love for our country never waver. ??

— Dianna Dela Guerra (@diannalouise) May 14, 2019

“STOP letting the ?? progress be DEPENDENT ON THE GOVERNMENT. And maybe do your part in the next elections by REGISTERING, VOTING and EDUCATING YOURSELF on who to vote. The Youth will rule the 2022 Elections.” @abbahootDemetri said.

And here comes the usual “mu migrate na tayo” “posts yet again…

STOP letting the ?? progress be DEPENDENT ON THE GOVERNMENT.

And maybe do your part in the next elections by REGISTERING, VOTING and EDUCATING YOURSELF on who to vote.

The Youth will rule the 2022 Elections. ✊

— Abba Demeterio (@AbbahootDemetri) May 14, 2019

Former PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa admitted that he’s still not aware to his upcoming job as the Senator of the Philippines, saying that he needs to learn more and familiarize things so he can work well as a lawmaker.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Dela Rosa who’s still joyful after his victory asked if first time senators need to do seminars first before starting working as a lawmaker.

“Ewan ko kung meron bang seminar dyan, or ano bang training dyan para matutuhan ko kung paano gawin ‘yung ng batas, kung paano gawin ‘yung trabaho sa senado. Kung merong ganon I’ll take that opportunity para matuto ako,” he told CNN Philippines Tuesday.

However, when the anchor offered Dela Rosa to take some seminars to University of the Philippines (UP) the incoming Senator said that he’s not interested in visiting the said place because of the beliefs of its students.

“‘Pag UP ‘di na ko pupunta dun, alanganin ako sa lugar na ‘yan. Anti-military ‘yang lugar na ‘yan, ayaw ko pumunta d’yan, anti-police ‘yan,” he said.

However, he believed that his political ally who’s already experienced in lawmaking like former Senate President Koko Pimentel and JV Ejercito would gladly help him to teach him the basics of being a Senator.

In another statement, Bato said that it’s better to admit that he’s not aware of the job as a Senator than pretending to be knowledgable about lawmaking.

“Pag first day ng trabaho, di ba may orientation? Kahit san tayo mag work, you need to figure out where things are. Familiarizing myself is needed so I can do a better job! Kung di pa alam, mas mabuti ng magtanong kesa mag pretend na alam.” he said.

Bato still maintains his top 5 position in the unofficial poll which secured his victory in the 2019 senatorial elections.

Incoming Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa expressed his happiness after winning the 2019 senatorial elections.

Bato who reached the top 5 of the unofficial tally of Commission on Elections said that he couldn’t believe that he can get a position in the national government.

In an interview with GMA News, Dela Rosa said that he thought that his public service would end as a police officer, but now he got elected as a Senator of the Republic.

He also shared that he’s still not talking to the President.

“Nagpapasalamat ako na naniniwala ang taong bayan sa atin, pwede pala tayong maging Senador,” Dela Rosa said.

“Akala ko hanggang pulis lang ako, pwede pala akong maging Senador,” he added.

Dela Rosa expressed his sympathy to the defeated senatorial candidates saying that he can understand how hard to convince the people to vote for them.

“Pwede kong sabihin sa kanila na better luck next time, after three years pwede namang tumakbo ulit diba,” he said.

The former PNP Chief said that he didn’t rely on the survey numbers, saying that he realized that he might win the election after he saw the support of the people during his travels around the Philippines.

Bato vowed to in reimposing the capital punishment and he’s going to promote the peace and order to attract more investors that could produce more jobs to the people.

He also said that he would become a “supportive” senator to the administration, but it would not reach the point that he would allow himself to be dictated by the executive branch of the government.

“Ako’y tumatakbo para suportahan si Pangulong Duterte, pero malaking pagkakaiba ng isang Senador na very cooperative at very supportive sa Malacanang kumpara sa isang Senador na under the dictates of Malacanang,” he said.

“Doon po ako sa una, sa cooperative at supportive, hindi ako magpapadikta sa Malacanang,” he added.

Bato reached more than 18-M votes which secured his seat in the Senate.

Former PNP Chief and future Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa spend his time in his province while waiting for the final results of the election.

In a post, Dela Rosa thanked the people who supported him in his political journey, saying that they’re his inspiration to continue his job to serve the public.

“Pabukid muna si thanos kiddin’ aside! We have alot of work ahead of us! Gusto ko munang pasalamatan ang lahat ng sumuporta! Kahit ano maging resulta, isang taos pusong pasasalamat sa inyo pong lahat! Kayo po ang naging gasolina ko para mag pursigi at mag trabaho ng ganito. Good morning po sa inyong lahat!” Dela Rosa said in his post.

Bato also included some photos, showing the retired General while having some private time together with his family and enjoying the scene of his province, a thing that he might not do anymore daily once he started his job in Manila as a Senator.

He also visited the Bato headquarters in Davao City to spend with time with his campaign team.

As of writing, Dela Rosa already got 18,169,994 votes which maintained his position in the top 5 of the unofficial results of the election.

Former Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary-General Renato Reyes questioned the credibility of the elections.

On their social media posts, both Taguiwalo and Reyes said that the election happened yesterday is full of anomalies because of the many errors occurred in the middle of the voting period.

Reyes pointed out several signs that the election was “not free and democratic” and also “far from being clean” and “far from being truly credible”.

In his post he listed five things that might prove his beliefs:

1. Pagpalya ng 1,000 SD cards sa araw ng eleksyon na nakaapekto sa 400-600 vote counting machines
2. Disenfranchisement ng mga botante
3. Pagpalya ng transparency server sa maagap na pag-tally ng boto
4. Malawakang bilihan ng boto at paggamit ng resources ng gobyerno para paboran ang mga kandidato ng administrasyon
5. Pananakot at intimidasyon, kasama na ang garapal na electioneering ng AFP at PNP laban sa mga progresibong partylist

Ang lahat ng ito ay nagbibigay duda sa resulta ng eleksyon at nagpapakita na hindi tunay na demokratiko ang proseso. Kapag namamayagpag ang bilihan ng boto at pera ng mga makapangyarihan, sabayan pa ng pananakot para impluwensyahan ang resulta, hindi tunay na malaya ang halalan. Marumi ang halalang naganap.

Sa panahong ito, makatwiran na kwestyunin ang kabuuang kondukta at resulta ng halalang pumabor sa mga makapangyarihan at administrasyong nasa poder. 

Meanwhile, Taguiwalo who served President Duterte several years ago as DSWD Secretary was not convinced by the results of the election.

She claimed that several voters complained that their votes were rejected by the vote counting machine (VCM) and experienced many irregularities during the voting process.

“The May 13 elections has been clearly compromised. Reports continue to come in about how thousands of voters have been disenfranchised, how their votes were not read, and how generally chaotic the entire process of voting was being loaded with irregularities on the side of the Comelec and its machines.” Taguiwalo said.

“The administration and its defenders think that the results are already definitive; and to some degree they are: they now define even more clearly that right-thinking, patriotic Filipinos have to escalate protests in all available legal and democratic venues to oppose what is coming,” she added.

Taguiwalo and Reyes both supported defeated senatorial candidate Neri Colmenares who reached the 24th spot in the unofficial tally.

Otso Diretso supporters on Twitter suspected that the results for the 2019 senatorial elections were rigged by Commission on Elections, saying that the malfunctioning vote counting machines might be contributed to the inaccuracy of the tally.

The top #HalalanDayaan2019 became the number one trending topic on Twitter, showing the sadness of many Otso Diretso supporters who campaigned their bets via social media.

Here are some of the comments of netizens on Twitter who used the said hashtag.

“The devastating part is, there’s no assurance that all votes being counted are accurate. From the malfunction of VCMs, mismatches of ballots and receipts corrupted SD cards and delayed transparency servers. It clearly shows that something is not right. #HalalanDayaan2019” @baldozeer said.

The devastating part is, there's no assurance that all votes being counted are accurate.

From the malfunction of VCMs, mismatches of ballots and receipts, corrupted SD cards, and delayed transparency servers.

It clearly shows that something is not right. #HalalanDayaan2019

— Gabrielle Kim (@baldozeeer) May 13, 2019

“This is so disappointing. PINAS DI NA TALAGA TAYO NADALA. This is the downfall of my country. I can’t hold back my tears anymore. GOD SAVE MY COUNTRY #HalalanDayaan2019 #Halaan2019” @itsmepatiyok wrote.

This is so disappointing. PINAS DI NA TALAGA TAYO NADALA. This is the downfall of my country. I can’t hold back my tears anymore. GOD SAVE MY COUNTRY #HalalanDayaan2019 #Halaan2019 pic.twitter.com/C9fKJmTVOW

— Antagonist✨ (@itsmepatiyok) May 13, 2019

“hey were rejected by the majority, but it’s more of rejection to change and progress. We lost brave and courageous candidates who are willing to fight for us and stand against the administration. Let’s educate others and make it happen in 2022!#HalalanDayaan2019” @_lancekeane remarked

They were rejected by the majority, but it's more of a rejection to change and progress. We lost brave and courageous candidates who are willing to fight for us and stand against the administration.

Let's educate others and make it happen in 2022!#HalalanDayaan2019 pic.twitter.com/vgamGxnQ2u

— lance (@_lancekeane) May 13, 2019

“WE ARE NOT SORE LOSERS, WE KNOW WE WERE CHEATED ON SO PLEASE DECLARE FAILURE OF ELECTION BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BEING MANIPULATED BY THOSE POWERFUL PEOPLE!!#HalalanDayaan2019” @klenaii_klens posted.

WE ARE NOT SORE LOSERS, WE KNOW WE WERE CHEATED ON SO PLEASE DECLARE FAILURE OF ELECTION BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BEING MANIPULATED BY THOSE POWERFUL PEOPLE!!#HalalanDayaan2019

— klens (@klenaii_klens) May 13, 2019

Meanwhile, actress Leah Navarro also joined the netizens who questioned the credibility of the elections.

“Are those counts genuine? How does anyone know? The reason it’s called a ‘transparency server’ is clear, but it’s going offline for hours is very unclear, and suspicious. @COMELEC needs to explain why this could be #HalalanDayaan2019.” she said.

Are those counts genuine? How does anyone know? The reason it’s called a ‘transparency server’ is clear, but it’s going offline for hours is very unclear, and suspicious. @COMELEC needs to explain why this could be #HalalanDayaan2019.

— Leah Navarro (@leahnavarro) May 13, 2019

Senator Risa Hontiveros also urged COMELEC to explain about the malfunctioning VCMs.

“I am extremely alarmed and disappointed over reports that some 400 to 600 vote-counting machines were replaced in this year’s midterm elections,” she said.

Congressman-elect of First District of Davao City Pulong Duterte congratulated his closest political ally former PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and former special assistant to President Christopher “Bong” Go for winning the senatorial elections.

In a post, Pulong expressed his happiness after his friends who are not so known in the whole country in the past several years ago suddenly got elected to a powerful position in the government.

“The leap of faith has been proven by the faithful! Senators Bong Go and Bato! CONGRATULATIONS!!” Pulong said in his post.

Go and Bato both served the government after President Rodrigo Duterte won the elections in 2016 and became known nationwide because of their vocal support to the chief executive.

They also vowed to help the Duterte government once they got elected.

Go got 19,535,952 votes as of writing while Bato got 17,964,775 which secured their victory.

Pulong also won via huge margin against his opponent for the congressman.

Some netizens said that the victory of Bato and Go might prove that the people widely supported the Duterte administration.

Opposition senatorial candidates Otso Diretso are still not reaching the magic 12 as of writing.

According to the latest unofficial results for senatorial candidates, only Bam Aquino has the closest chance to win the elections, as he only needed more than 200,000 votes to achieve victory.

Meanwhile, the other 7 candidates of Otso Diretso was far from close from reaching the magic 12 including Mar Roxas who got 9,363,728, needs 5 million more votes to win the elections.

COMELEC already transmitted 92.01% of election returns nationwide.

The other members of Otso Diretso Chel Diokno got 6,053,394 votes, Gary Alejano 4,494,369, Samira Gutoc 4,015,575, Romy Macalintal 3,806,292, Erin Tanada 3,681,258 and Florin Hilbay 2,615,894.

Otso Diretso is targeting a “One Catholic” vote during the campaign period, however, the number showed that they failed to urge the largest religion in the Philippines to unite and support their candidacy.

During the campaign period, they also criticized the Duterte administration’s policies and vowed an ‘independent senate’ if all of them won the election.

Otso Diretso is still not releasing a statement as of writing.

Several hours ago, Liberal Party President Kiko Pangilinan also criticized COMELEC for being slow on updating the results of the elections, saying that they can’t even explain why the delays are happening.

“Lumabas kayo, ipakita ninyo mga mukha ninyo at magpaliwanag sa malaking kapalpakan na ito. Bakit wala pang resulta sa Senate race? Bakit hindi kayo humaharap sa publiko? Hindi ba ninyo maipapaliwanag ang mga pangyayari kaya nagtatago kayo mataos ang limang oras?” Pangilinan said.

“Lalo lang lumalaki ang agam-agam at pagdududa ng pubiko sa katahimikan ninyo.” he added.

Senator Cynthia Villar complained about the names appeared to the receipt she received after casting her ballot on May 13 at the Las Piñas City Science High School.

In an interview with DZRH News, Villar was surprised that a certain candidate appeared in her receipt despite not voting it.

A video from the Philippine Information Agency also showed Villar complaining about her receipt.

“Bakit di ko binoto, nasa receipt?” Villar asked the COMELEC representative.

However, Villar also said that there’s a possibility that she made a mistake during the shading of the names which might explain why the problem happened.

Cynthia, who’s leading the senatorial race voted together with her husband former Senate President Manny Villar.

Villar is not the only high profile politician complained during the election day, Former Vice President Jejomar Binay also experienced a problem after the vote counting machine (VCM) rejected his ballot eight times.

Unlike Villar who normally left her precinct, Binay immediately went to COMELEC headquarters to complain.