Senate receives first batches of COCs from Cambodia, Malabon

MANILA –The Senate has started receiving certificates of canvass (COCs) from two voting areas on its first two days of serving its mandate as part of the National Board of Canvassers for the 2022 presidential and vice presidential races.

The first physical COCs delivered to the upper chamber on Tuesday were from Malabon City, while the second batch that arrived Wednesday morning came from Cambodia, the Senate’s Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB) said.

“The chamber likewise accepted first overseas voting COCs and election returns from Cambodia, brought by Ambassador Maria Amelita Aquino,” Senate PRIB said.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, together with Senate Secretary Myra Villarica and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Rene Samonte, personally received the COCs.

Sotto said he consulted fellow lawmakers, both in the Senate and the House of Representatives, on the possibility of convening a joint session on May 24.

During the initialization of the vote consolidation and canvassing system (CCS), Sotto said under the Philippine Constitution, the election returns for president and vice president, duly certified by the Board of Canvassers of each province and city, shall be transmitted to Congress.

He said Congress will also be tasked to proclaim the winners of the presidency and the vice presidency for the May 9, 2022 elections, expected to be done by May 27 or 28.