SEVEN senatorial candidates of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) made it to the top 12 positions in the senatorial race, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) official tally of votes.
Based on the first 41 Certificate of Canvass (COC), which were canvassed by the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) chief Joel Villanueva leads the senatorial race with 5,413,225 votes.
Other administration senatorial bets who made it to the top 12 are Senate President Franklin Drilon with 5,201,938 votes, former Senator Panfilo Lacson (5,099,790 votes), Risa Hontiveros (4,710,882 votes), former Senator Francis Pangilinan (4,582,049 votes), Senator Ralph Recto (4,248,546 votes), and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima (4,178,009).
On the other hand, four candidates from the opposition party, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) also made it to the top 12, they are Senator Vicente Sotto (5,171,135 votes); former Senator Richard Gordon (5,123,993 votes), former Senator Migz Zubiri (4,427,348 votes), and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao (4,401,211 votes).
Also in the top circle is former Valenzuela Representative Win Gatchalian (4,363,197 votes) of National People's Coalition (NPC).
Since Monday evening, the Comelec en banc sitting as the NBOC has canvassed a total of 81 COCs, but the available data as of Wednesday was only 41.
A total of 165 COCs are set to be canvassed by the NBOC. (FP/Sunnex)