‘Magic 12’ proclamation set on May 18, says Comelec
FILE PHOTO: Comelec personnel readies the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City where the National Board of Canvassers will be canvassing votes cast during the May 2022 national elections. INQUIRER/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines — A mix of neophyte, returning, and reelectionist senators are set to be proclaimed as winners in this year’s elections on Wednesday in Pasay City.
The Commission on Elections, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), approved Tuesday a recommendation of the supervisory committee to proceed with the proclamation of the winning senatorial candidates on May 18.
The 12 senatorial candidates to be proclaimed were the following:
- Robin Padilla – 26,612,434 votes
- Loren Legarda – 24,264,969 votes
- Raffy Tulfo – 23,396,954 votes
- Sherwin Gatchalian – 20,602,655 votes
- Francis Escudero – 20,271,458 votes
- Mark Villar – 19,475,592 votes
- Alan Peter Cayetano – 19,295,314 votes
- Juan Miguel Zubiri – 18,734,336 votes
- Joel Villanueva – 18,486,034 votes
- JV Ejercito – 15,841,858 votes
- Risa Hontiveros – 15,420,807 votes
- Jinggoy Estrada – 15,108,625 votes
The supervisory committee recommended that the NBOC proceed with the proclamation of the so-called Magic 12 even without the votes from Lanao del Sur which certain areas are set to hold special elections.
According to the committee, the votes from Lanao del Sur will not affect the senatorial rankings.
The proclamation of winning party-list groups, however, was put on hold pending the votes from Lanao del Sur.
READ: Celebrating party-list groups told: Wait for Comelec to make it official
Unlike in the senatorial race where winners are determined based on rankings, the party-list elections follow a computation to identify the number of seats the winning groups will get in the House of Representatives.
For this election, there are 63 seats available for party-list groups in the lower chamber.
