'Topnotcher' Drilon thanks Filipinos for support, asks for 'prayers and support' to serve the country

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, the topnotcher in the 2016 senatorial race, thanked the Filipino people for giving him "a resounding mandate" to serve the country in the upcoming 17th Congress.

"I would like to humbly thank every single Filipino who have entrusted me with the mandate to serve this nation for six more years," Drilon said.

"I am forever grateful for your recognition of what I have accomplished in my past terms as senator but more importantly, for your confidence in what I can still do for our country," Drilon emphasized. "Thank you, thank you for re-electing me."

Drilon said that winning an election is already an achievement, that is why topping the senatorial race has humbled and inspired him.

Drilon received the highest number of votes of 18,607,391, according to the final national canvass report released by the Commission on Elections on Thursday. "My intention was to win in order that I can continue to serve our people and influence the governance through policies which I believe will be beneficial for our country," Drilon said.

"But our people had been very generous in their support for me and what better way to repay their trust than working harder to uplift their lives," Drilon emphasized.

In jest, Drilon said that "because of this new feat as a Senate race topnotcher, he no longer minds if he did not top the bar exam 46 years back."

"I am now a topnotcher, even though I was only number three in the bar exams, thanks to our people," Drilon quipped. He placed third in the 1969 bar exam that was topped by his classmate, San Juan City Rep. Ronnie Zamora. The four-time Senate President also urged the public to pray for the country's new leaders.

"We cannot predict what can happen in the next six years, that is why we need prayers and support in order that we can deliver and perform our mandates to serve the country and the Filipino people," Drilon stressed.

Drilon said that among his priorities when the 17th Congress opens in July would be to pass a legislation that will institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, increase the salaries of government employees, and improve the country's investment climate.

Lastly, Drilon commends the men and women of the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, our teachers, and the various election watchdogs "for a job well done in keeping the elections, clean, credible, and peaceful."