Sunday, May 16, 2004
Nat'l canvassing starts; K4 bets on the lead
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) officially started Saturday morning the national canvassing of votes for the senatorial candidates and partylist groups amid tight security at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
President Arroyo according to the partial and unofficial count of the National Citizen's Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) leads by more than 200,000 as against actor Fernando Poe. Jr.
Comelec earlier directed its Board of Canvassers (BOCs) nationwide to expedite the process and achieve a shorter canvassing period of two weeks to proclaim national winners earlier.
The BOCs are tasked to facilitate the canvass of results contained in 166 overseas and domestic Certificates of Canvass (COCs).
As of Friday, only Aurora and Zambales have submitted their COCs, although 20 COCs from overseas and local absentee voters had been delivered to the Comelec, Comelec Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said.
Security preparations by the PNP have also been mapped out to ensure that no groups will disrupt the formal canvassing of votes.
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will also provide the necessary security deployment in the area.
The "no-permit, no-rally" rule will be implemented, but PNP personnel were given instructions to practice maximum tolerance.
In the national canvassing of votes, Comelec failed to release an official count when it adjourned Saturday afternoon.
But based on the partial count of the Overseas Absentee Voting in 18 foreign countries KNP's Alfredo Lim is one the lead with 11,066 followed by Bong Revilla with 9,732; Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 9,319; Jinggoy Estrada, 9,068; Orly Mercado, 8,746; Nene Pimentel, 8569; Francisco Tatad, 8,506; Robert Barbers, 8,425; Nar Roxas, 8,005; Rodolfo Biazon, 7,987; John Osmena, 7,640; Ernesto Maceda, 7,494; Lito Lapid, 7, 219; Richard Gordon, 6,829; Pia Cayetanom, 6,162.
The canvassed certificates were from 18 countries overseas, which include: Australia, Turkey, China, Oman, Egypt, Cambodia, Laos, Netherland, Palau, Brunei, Sweden, Norway, Uganda, Botswana, Mozambiqui, Romania and South Africa and one local absentee voting -- comprising a total of over 23,000 voters.
At least 357,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) cast their votes in the 74 countries abroad.
During the canvassing, four countries -- Uganda, Norway, Mozambiqui and Botswana -- registered zero results of voters casting their votes, but surprisingly, there were a total of 89 voters that registered in these four countries.
Borra said if the rate they are going would continue, they expect to complete the canvassing of the 176 COCs within the end of this month.
There at least 79 COCs from the provinces, two from the districts, seven from urbanized cities, 13 from the National Capital Region (NCR), one for the local absentee voting and 74 from the overseas absentee voting.
The NBOC will continue their canvassing and convene again Sunday at 10 a.m. to canvass the remaining 153 COCs.
GMA, Noli on the lead
Meanwhile, President Arroyo continues to be on the lead in the partial, unofficial count of Namfrel.
Arroyo enjoys more than 200,000 lead over actor Fernando Poe Jr. Senator Noli de Castro garnered 2,346, 984 votes as against Senator Loren Legarda's 2,346,984 votes.
Senatoriables who made in the magic 12 are Mar Roxas, Bong Revilla, Aquilino Pimentel, Jamby Madrigal, Richard Gordon, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Pia Cayetano, Alfredo Lim, Jinggoy Estrada, Rodolfo Biazon, Juan Ponce Enrile and Roberto Barbers.
(May 16, 2004 issue)
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