Commission on Elections logo superimposed on the picture of its headquarters in Manila. INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s new senators may be proclaimed by May 15 to 16, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said Thursday.
“Senators, based on our experience, since 2010 computerized election, usually po mga [around] May 15 to May 16, we can already proclaim our senators,” Garcia said during the Pandesal Forum.
For local positions, the Comelec may already proclaim the winners as early as the evening of the election day on May 9 up to May 10, according to the poll body official.
“Past experiences will tell us that, number one, on the evening of May 9, we will be able to proclaim already our mayors, vice mayors, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan (municipal council], at least in smaller municipalities,” Garcia said.
“Yung mga cities perhaps, aabutin po yan mga madaling araw ng May 10. Governor, vice governors, Sangguniang Panlalawigan (provincial council) morning of May 10 or the latest up to noon of May 10. So ganon po kabilis naman nating napo-proclaim kagaad ang mga [That’s how fast we can proclaim the] governors,” he added.
“Congressmen can also be proclaimed the next day, which is May 10,” he further said.
President, vice president
For the top two positions in the country, it is Congress that will proclaim the new president and vice president, Garcia noted.
However, Garcia said the partial and unofficial quick count of votes may already indicate a presidential and vice presidential winner two to three days after the election day.
“For president and vice president, it’s Congress jointly canvassing the result for president and vice president and Congress will resume session on May 23 to officially count or canvass the results for president and vice president,” Garcia said.
“Of course, even before that, even after two or three days of after voting, meron na pong partial, unofficial results na lumalabas coming from citizens’ arm, media because they have access to our transparency server,” he added.
(Of course, even before that, even after two or three days after voting, there are already partial and unofficial results coming from citizens’ arm, media because they have access to our transparency server.)
“They can already have a partial result of the election from president down to the last position,” he further said.