Malacanang expressed satisfaction on Tuesday over the conduct of the 2013 midterm elections, saying the Commission on Elections and its “deputized agencies came together and did their utmost to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.”

In a statement read during his regular press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda also lauded the Filipino people whom he said “undertook this exercise and the right of suffrage with tenacity and good cheer.”

“By all accounts, this second automated election has proceeded in a satisfactory manner, with the system and the vast majority of machines working as they were intended. While there were isolated incidents of violence and equally isolated hitches in the voting process, our institutions—from the COMELEC to its deputized agencies—volunteers for poll-watching, media, and the public came together and did their utmost to ensure free, fair, and credible elections,” Lacierda said.

“The President led the administration into what he himself has described as a referendum on this administration—one that will determine whether there will be a continuation and acceleration of reform, or a regression to the old, selfish ways that had harmed our country. As the counting is completed and the official proclamations take place, it seems clear that our countrymen have spoken overwhelmingly to confirm and expand the mandate for reform and change that they first granted in 2010 to President Aquino,” he added.

According to the Comelec, nine out of the 12 seats for Senators are from the ruling party – Liberal Party also known as Team Pnoy.

Lacierda said the strong showing of Team Pnoy “is a renewed mandate for tuwid na daan, and a vote of confidence for good governance, the continuity of reforms, and a brighter future to come.”

He said this “greater majority in the Senate…means we will be able to push our reform agenda.”

“Since we will have a greater support in the Senate, that means we will be able to push our reform agenda, the laws that we feel are our priorities for the country, and so it is certainly a desire that we wanted during the campaign and it seems like it is going that way,” Lacierda said.

“We thank the Filipino people for the support they have shown President Aquino’s agenda of reform and positive change, and we also thank them for doing their part and contributing to the success of these elections.

"As we in government continue to fulfill the mandate entrusted to us by our Bosses, the Filipino people, it is our hope that the next three years will see our country taking even greater strides along the straight path towards equitable progress, peace, and stability for all,” he added.