Congress proclaims Noynoy Aquino and Jejomar Binay new President and Vice President

By: Noel B. Orsal & Mark Angelo Ching

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile (extreme

left) and House Speaker Prospero Nograles
(extreme right) proclaim Senator Benigno
"Noynoy" Aquino III (third from left) and
Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (second from left)
as the new President and Vice President in a
joint session of the Congress earlier today, June
9, at the Batasang Pambansa.

Cries of "Noy-Bi" filled the gallery of the House

of Representatives after Noynoy Aquino and
Jejomar Binay were proclaimed as the country's
new President and Vice President, respectively,
at around 4 p.m. this afternoon, June 9, at the
Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House

Speaker Prospero Nograles headed the proclamation.

Jejomar Binay received a standing ovation as he climbed the rostrum. The seven-termer Makati
City Mayor smiled as Enrile and Nograles raised his arms, sealing his victory in the vice-
presidential race. Binay, a candidate of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, had a photo opportunity with
his family after he was proclaimed.

Binay won the elections with only 700,000 votes over Liberal Party bet Mar Roxas.

Noynoy Aquino was proclaimed after Binay. The gallery, which was filled with yellow-clad
supporters of the Senator, erupted in applause as Enrile and Nograles raised the arms of the
Liberal Party standard bearer. Aquino led a landslide victory in the presidential race, beating
closest contender Joseph "Erap" Estrada by 5.7 million votes.

Aquino was accompanied by his family while he was being proclaimed. Standing behind him
were his sisters Ballsy Aquino-Cruz, Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Viel Aquino-Dee, and actress-TV
host Kris Aquino-Yap, as well as James Yap, the husband of Kris.

Valenzuela City Councilor Shalani Soledad, Noynoy's girlfriend, was in the gallery but did not
climb the rostrum.

President-elect Aquino and Vice-President-elect Binay are the first in the country to win in the
automated elections.
 The National Board of Canvassers ended canvassing the votes for the two top positions
yesterday afternoon. The canvassing, which started on May 27, was delayed by debates on the
possibility of election fraud.

During the canvassing, the lawyers of Mar Roxas even raised the possibility that the "null votes"
that were culled during the canvassing may be in favor of their candidate. Roxas, who did not
attend the proclamation, is planning to file an election protest.

Other celebrities who witnessed the proclamation were Dingdong Dantes, Ogie Alcasid, Boy
Abunda, Cesar Montano, Jim Paredes, and Leah Navarro. All are vocal supporters of Noynoy
Aquino.

In a press conference immediately after the proclamation, Aquino said he plans to deliver his
proclamation speech in Quezon City on June 30.