Comelec suspends canvassing of votes for third straight day

MANILA, Philippines — For the third straight day on Wednesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) suspended the canvassing of votes, citing that “voluminous” documents of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite as the reason for the delay.

The Comelec is seating as National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC) for the BOL plebiscite held last February 6 in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

“The NPBOC will reset our canvassing tomorrow at 2 p.m. The documents are voluminous, so they could not finish it today,” Comelec Secretariat lawyer Consuelo Diola announced.

“They have been doing their work since the first day until 11 p.m., then yesterday until 11 p.m. also. Probably they will finish earlier than 11 p.m.[today], but we don’t want to push them,” she added.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said earlier said the Comelec was hoping that the canvassing of votes would be finished within the day. /ee

READ: Comelec hoping to finish tabulating BOL plebiscite results today