Comelec to wrap up canvassing of votes within the week

MANILA, Philippines — The canvassing of votes for the midterm polls may be finished within the week, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday.

However, the proclamation of the new set of Senators and representatives may not happen immediately, according to the poll body’s spokesperson James Jimenez.

“We expect to finish everything within the week, but the formal proclamation may not happen this week because there will be invitations and ceremonies,” he told reporters Filipino. “But we will know the results very soon.”

Jimenez also said that the Comelec targets to announce the names of the 12 winning senators in one blow, just like in past elections.

According to the latest update of poll results on the Comelec website, 97.82 percent of election returns nationwide been received by the poll body.

The canvassing of votes started past noon on Tuesday, and out of the 167 certificates of canvass, 34 have been tallied. (Editor: Eden Estopace)