Comelec to proclaim Villar, Estrada

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, on Saturday sent invitations to two more candidates in the Senate race for proclamation.

In a chance interview with reporters at the Philippine International Convention Center, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said that they invited former Las Pinas Representative Cynthia Villar, no. 10; and former San Juan Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada, no. 11.

The NBOC has canvassed 128 certificates of canvass (CoCs) as of 4 p.m.

There was, however, no word on whether an invitation would be sent to the 12th candidate.

In the latest tally of the NBOC, re-electionist senator Gregorio Honasan ranked 12th, followed by former senator Richard Gordon and resigned senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The first half of the Magic 12 senators-elect Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Alan Cayetano, Nancy Binay and Juan Edgardo Angara were proclaimed Thursday night.

On Friday night, the NBOC pushed through with the proclamation of senators-elect Benigno Aquino IV, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Antonio Trillanes IV.

As of posting time, only Lanao del Norte has yet to transmit its CoC to the Comelec.