Senate starts receiving votes cast for president, VP ahead of canvassing

The Senate begins receiving certificates of canvass and election returns for votes cast for president and vice president on Tuesday, May 10, 2022.

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Tuesday night began formally receiving votes cast for president and vice president ahead of Congress’ canvassing.

The upper chamber, through Senate President Vicente Sotto III, received the first ballot box containing the certificates of canvass (COCs) and election returns (ERs) for president and vice president.

They were from Malabon City.  It was then turned over to the Senate reception team for proper recording.

Under the 1987 Constitution, “the returns of every election for president and vice president duly certified by the board canvassers of each province or city shall be transmitted to the Congress directed to the President of the Senate,” Sotto noted.

Congress will convene as the National Board of Canvassers to canvass the presidential and vice presidential votes on May 24 after it resumes session on May 23, the chambers’ two leaders earlier said.

READ: Congress sees proclamation of President, VP before June

Sotto and his House counterpart, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, said Congress will likely be able to proclaim the country’s new president before June.

Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is presumed to be the country’s next new president based on the Commission on Elections  (Comelec) partial and unofficial tally.

PARTIAL, UNOFFICIAL: Bongbong Marcos leads pres’l race by over 500,000 votes in first wave of results