Comelec eyes proclamation of 12 senators ‘Friday or Saturday’

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is eyeing to proclaim the 12 winning senators in the just concluded May 12 midterm polls by the end of the week.

“We expect the arrival of COCs (Certificates of Canvass) to be faster,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a press conference on Tuesday.

“Hopefully, Friday or Saturday we will be able to proclaim.”

The poll body is set to receive a total of 175 COCs, including from overseas voting. An initial batch of around 30 arrived on Tuesday.

“We will canvass votes as they come,” Garcia said.

The Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), reconvened on Tuesday to start the canvassing of votes for senators and party-list groups.

First to be canvassed were COCs from the local absentee voting, Baguio City, and Ifugao.

Later in the day, COCs from Timor-Leste, Brunei, Cambodia, Japan, Myamar, and Singapore also arrived and were canvassed.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said they would release the partial official tally of the votes starting Wednesday based on the COCs that have been canvassed from the previous day.