|
Monday, May 24, 2004
Comelec to proclaim Senate winners today
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) finally gave the go signal for the proclamation Monday of the winning senators, nine days after the national canvassing started.
Comelec Chair Benjamin Abalos said the proclamation will start at 3 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). Whether it will be a partial or total proclamation will be known by noon Monday.
As of 4:30 p.m., after the completion of certificates of canvass from Isabela and Tawi-Tawi, only certificates of canvass (COCs) from Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte and Zamboanga City remain undelivered. Abalos said the 10th to 13th slots might still change.
Comelec's senatorial tally as of 3:04 p.m. Sunday, covering 156 out of 176 certificates, showed Mar Roxas still leading the count: Roxas, 16,194,795; Ramon Revilla Jr., 13,274,661; Jamby Madrigal, 11,007,313; Aquilino Pimentel Jr., 10,973,408; Richard Gordon, 10,419,607; Pia Cayetano, 10,358,426; Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 10,120,750; Manuel Lapid, 9,149,897; Alfredo Lim, 9,136,458; Juan Enrile, 8,941,329; Jinggoy Estrada, 8,828,516; Robert Barbers, 8,682,530.
Concerning the proclamation of president and vice president, Arroyo spokesman Ignacio Bunye said the present administration is confident that the National Board of Canvassers would be able to complete the canvassing of the votes well before June 30, when the terms of present officials will end.
He also assured the opposition that 14 lawmakers from Senate and the House of Representatives would ensure that the canvassing would be credible.
Bunye made the statement following reports that there are efforts to railroad the canvassing and speed up the proclamation of President Arroyo.
He also assured that the interests of both the opposition and administration candidates would be represented in the canvassing, which would start Monday.
"I believe the composition of the board of canvassers would be seven-seven, seven from the Senate and seven from the House of Representatives, and each groups would have representation and then according to House Speaker Joe de Venecia, subject to availability of space, the proceedings would be open to all," Bunye said.
Asked if he shares de Vencia's proposal to have the canvassing completed in a week's time, Bunye said "I think that's too optimistic but I think June 30 is still the deadline that, I believe, can be met." JMR/(PNA)
(May 24, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Be calm, Vidal tells Arroyo, Poe allies