Comelec looking forward to proclaim 3 more Senate winners

The National Board of Canvassers PHOTO/ MATIKAS SANTOS

MANILA, Philippines — If the Commission on Elections [Comelec] en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), decides to proclaim more senators-elect in a couple of hours, it was likely that three more candidates could find themselves joining the winning circle by Friday night.

Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle told reporters in a chance interview at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) that NBOC members were meeting to determine whether they have received enough certificates of canvass (COC) to proclaim several more of those in the Magic 12.

Earlier, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they might proclaim “four, five, or six” new senators Friday night, but Tagle felt that it was likely that they would come up with three more names.

“We are meeting on whether to proclaim more or not. It depends on the reports that we have received. I prefer that we receive roughly 70 percent before we proclaim more,” he said.

“You will know after our meeting if we would indeed proclaim more tonight,” he said.

So far he estimated that they have received around 60 to 65 percent of the reports that they need.

“We are still validating the group canvass reports. We have received a substantial number of COCs,” he added.

Senators-elect Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Nancy Binay and Juan Edgardo Angara made up the first half of the winners of the senatorial race and were proclaimed Thursday night.

As of 3:15 p.m. the Comelec has canvassed 109 COCs.