MANILA - Incoming president Rodrigo Duterte has been urged to attend his proclamation at the House of Representatives Monday, not just to honor tradition but to give respect to 16 million Filipinos who voted for him, an election lawyer said.

Veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal reiterated that Duterte should rethink his plans of missing the event, saying that the proclamation is an age-old tradition that the incoming president should honor.

"Although it is not mandatory for the winner to be personally present, his presence will show his reverence and respect to the Congress of the Philippines which is mandated by law to canvass the results and proclaim the winners for president and vice president," Macalintal said.

Macalintal said Duterte's attendance will also make his voters happy.

"The entire Filipino people, especially the millions of voters who voted for Duterte would surely be very happy to see their chosen candidate for president on the day of proclamation being officially declared as the duly elected president of the country," Macalintal added.

Duterte, who vowed not to attend the event because he has always skipped proclamations, must also not miss the once in a lifetime event, said Macalintal.

READ: Duterte says he'll skip his own proclamation

"Duterte should not disappoint these millions of people and adoring fans on this once in a lifetime event which will never happen again in his life because of the constitutional ban on reelection of any elected president of the Philippines," said Macalintal.

Vice president apparent, Leni Robredo has confirmed that she will attend the proclamation.

Duterte won the 2016 presidential race with 16,601,997 votes, while Robredo got 14,418,817 votes for the vice presidential polls.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Macalintal also shed light on how the Congress will proclaim Duterte and Robredo as the respective winners of the presidential and vice-presidential race.

Macalintal said all 24 senators and 290 congressmen are expected to be present on Monday when the joint congressional committee submits its report on the canvassing of the May 9 election results.

Once Congress approves the report, it can then proclaim Duterte as the country's 16th President and Robredo as the 14th vice president.

On the contrary, the proclamation process will be extended if lawmakers would each stand to explain their vote for approving or disapproving the joint committee report.

Macalintal said lawmakers are not required to explain their vote, but may not be prohibited from doing so.

He noted that this privilege delayed past proclamations of the elected President and Vice President.

"Sa haba ng paliwanag ng isang congressman o isang senador, inaabot tayo ng hanggang umaga ang proclamation," he said.

- DZMM TeleRadyo2016, 30 May 2016