Remaining Senate winners proclaimed

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, on Saturday proclaimed all the remaining winners in the Senate race.

With 129 out of 301 certificates of canvass (COCs) accounted for by the NBOC as of 5:30 p.m., Nancy Binay, Aquilino Pimentel III, Antonio Trillanes IV, former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, former San Juan Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito Estrada, and re-electionist senator Gregorio Honasan were proclaimed.

Accompanying Binay were her father and Vice President Jejomar Binay, mother and former Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, her husband and children. Binay was a no-show when she was first proclaimed Thursday, along with her fellow candidates who were in the top six — Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Alan Cayetano, Francis “Chiz” Escudero, and Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

Manila Mayor-elect Joseph Estrada and Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto, were also present.

On Friday night, the NBOC proclaimed senators-elect Benigno Aquino IV, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Antonio Trillanes IV. Only Aquino was present.

The Comelec pushed through with the proclamation amid criticisms that it was too early since less than 50 percent of the CoCs were counted.

The crowd at the PICC cheered when canvassers announced that they have received the CoC from Lanao del Norte, the last province to make the transmission to the Comelec.