Election 2019: Senate race proclamations

The Commission on Elections has officially proclaimed the following elected senators:

• Cynthia Villar

• Grace Poe

• Bong Go

• Ronald dela Rosa

• Sonny Angara

• Lito Lapid

• Imee Marcos

• Francis Tolentino

• Koko Pimentel

• Bong Revilla

• Nancy Binay

The final and official tally of votes shows that nine of President Rodrigo Duterte's allies candidates won a seat at the upper house.

.@COMELEC chief Sheriff Abas thanks the poll body’s personnel as well as its partners for the “successful” conduct of #Election2019.

“The public has asked a lot from us. I’m proud to say we have delivered what is needed.” | via @gaeacabico #SenateRace pic.twitter.com/U5Xcadx7o5

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) May 22, 2019

With only two certificates of canvass left for the National Board of Canvassers to tally, the board suspends its session on Monday and will resume canvassing on Tuesday morning.

Comelec said the COCs from the Philippine embassies in Saudi Arabia and in Washington account for 555,092 votes.

The board has canvassed 165 of 167 COCs and the Comelec expects to hold proclamations of winning candidates on Tuesday.

Canvassing resumes Monday night.

The National Board of Canvassers resumes its session at 8:13 p.m.

The board is now tabulating the certificate of canvass from Japan. #Election2019 | @rosette_adel pic.twitter.com/55wAoIzecB

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) May 20, 2019

The Commission on Elections said earlier Monday that the proclamation of winners in the senatorial and party-list elections will likely happen on Tuesday. 

Party-list proclamations will be in the morning while the country's 12 new senators-elect will be proclaimed in the evening.

Commission on Elections Director Frances Arabe of the commission's Education and Information Department tells reporters that proclamation of winners can be done "early next week" but cannot say for certain if it will be done in one go.

The Comelec has conducted partial proclamations in past elections.

Former Sen. Bong Revilla trails Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III in the partial, unofficial tally released Sunday.

Revilla and Pimentel are at 10th and 11th place in the 12-seat race for the Senate.

Actor-turned-politician Bong Revilla stays at No. 11 of the "Magic 12", based on partial, unofficial tally released as of 4:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.  

Former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. slips to 11th spot in the partial, unofficial tally as of 3:12 p.m. Saturday, May 18, 2019. Reelectionist Sen. Koko Pimentel overtakes the actor-turned-politician in the senatorial race.

Here's the partial and unofficial results as of 1:12 p.m. on Saturday.

Some 98.10% of election returns have been tallied as of 12:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 18.

Partial and unofficial results as of 11:10 a.m. Saturday show no movement in the ranking of candidates who entered the winning circle. 

Here's the partial and unofficial tally of the senatorial race as of 9:08 a.m. on Saturday, May 18. So far, 98.08% of election returns have been processed.

Some 98.06% of election returns have been processed so far as of 6:07 a.m. May 18. Reelectionist Sens. Cynthia Villar and Grace Poe maintain lead in partial and unofficial results.

The Department of Educations thanks its teachers and personnel for servng in the midterm polls this Monday.

"We, at DepEd, thank them for continuing to be on the frontline of the foremost exercise of democracy in the country notwithstanding the demands and challenges the season entails," Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones says in a press release.

It says 526,686 teachers and personnel were deputized by the Commission on Elections to help in the elections, with 257,304 teachers serving on the electoral boards.

Under the Election Reform Service Act, poll workers are entitled to honoraria and allowances in recognition of their support of the elections.

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 8:29 a.m. on May 17. Some 97.88% of election returns have been tallied so far.  

After dropping out of the winners' circle in the partial and official count of Comelec on the second day of canvassing, Sen. Bam Aquino returns to Magic 12 on Day 3.

Here are the partial and official results on Thursday, May 16.

1. Cynthia Villar: 19,383,224
2. Grace Poe: 17,043,889
3. Bong Go: 15,685,847
4. Pia Cayetano: 15,330,363
5. Ronald dela Rosa: 14,529,585
6. Sonny Angara: 14,023,811
7. Lito Lapid: 12,628,054
8. Imee Marcos: 12,618,428
9. Francis Tolentino: 11,975,435
10. Koko Pimentel: 11,283,357
11. Nancy Binay: 11,041,386
12. Bam Aquino: 11,001,047
13. Bong Revilla: 10,988,697
14. JV Ejercito: 10,984,412
15. Jinggoy Estrada: 8,654,021

A total of 129 of 167 certificates of canvass have been processed by the National Board of Canvassers as of Thursday.

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 10:26 p.m. on May 16. Some 97.71% of election returns have been processed so far.

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 9:28 p.m. on May 16. Some 97.69% of election returns have been processed so far.

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 8:28 p.m. on May 16. Some 97.66% of election returns have so far been processed.

Here is the partial and unofficial tally as of 7:05 p.m. on May 16 with 97.64% of election returns processed.

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 6:05 p.m. on May 16. With 97.60% of election returns processed, the names of senatorial candidates who made it in the winners' circle remain unchanged.

Some 97.55% of election returns have been processed as of 5:06 p.m. on Thursday, May 16. 

Here are the rankings of senatorial candidates in the winning circle as of 4:06 p.m. based on the unofficial tally. 

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 3:04 p.m. on Thursday, May 15.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said it is untrue that they issued an appeal to suspend the proclamation of senators amid allegations of fraud in the 2019 polls.

The call was actually made by Caritas Philippines, the social justice arm of the Catholic Church, after getting reports of possible fraud due to "major technical glitches" involving vote counting machines and transparency servers. 

Nilinaw ng CBCP na hindi panawagan ng buong institusyon ang sinabi ni Father Edwin Gariguez na isuspindi muna ang proklamasyon ng mga nanalo sa national elections. pic.twitter.com/dBIQe0Dvg5

— News5 AKSYON (@News5AKSYON) May 16, 2019

With an increase of 0.02% in election returns tallied, unofficial tally shows that as of 2:04 p.m., rankings of senatorial candidates in the winning circle have not changed. 

With 97.44% of election returns processed, below is the partial and unofficial tally as of 1:04 p.m. on Thursday, May 16.

As of 12:04 p.m. Thursday, some 97.42% of election returns have been tallied. 

Unofficial tally as of 11:04 a.m. shows allies of President Rodrigo Duterte continue to dominate the senatorial race. 

With an increase of 0.28% in election returns tallied, unofficial tally shows that as of 7:20 am places of candidates in the winning circle are further cemented.

Sen. Cynthia Villar breaks the 10-million mark in the Commission on Elections' official tally as of early Thursday.

Villar so far earned 10,416,332 votes, while second placer Grace Poe gained 9,151,162.

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino drops out while Sen. JV Ejercito makes it into the Magic 12 in Comelec's partial and official tally as Day 2 of canvassing came to a close.

(Photo by STAR/Edd Gumban)

With 97.06% of election returns processed, here is the partial and unofficial tally as of 11:44 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15.

The National Board of Canvassers suspends session at 11:54 p.m. today and will resume Day 3 of election canvassing tomorrow, May 16, at 10 a.m.

As of 11:54 p.m., 89 out of 167 (53%) of Certificates of Canvass were processed.

As of 11:54 p.m., 89 out of 167 (53%) Certificates of Canvass (COCs) canvassed. Canvassing to resume 16 May 2019, at 10 am | via @jabjimenez #Election2019 @PhilstarNews

— Rosette Adel (@rosette_adel) May 15, 2019

(Photo by Philstar.com)

Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Church's social justice arm, says the Comelec must suspend the proclamation of senators until allegations of election fraud are cleared.

It also demands for an independent and impartial probe into the allegations. 

“We are calling to suspend the proclamation of winning senatorial candidates until the allegation of fraud is resolved,” said Fr. Edwin Gariguez, Caritas executive secretary. 

(Photo by Philstar.com/Efigenio Toledo IV)

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 10:44 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Only 3% of the election returns are left unprocessed.

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 9:44 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15.

Partial and unofficial results as of 8:44 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15.

Partial and unofficial tally as of 7:44 p.m. A total of 96.84% of election returns have been processed. 

Some 96.79% of election returns have been tallied as of 6:44 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. 

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 5:01 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Names in the winning circle remain unchanged.

Total election returns tallied have reached 96.54% as of 4:01 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Sen. Cynthia Villar is still leading the poll followed by Grace Poe.

Here's the partial and unofficial tally of the senatorial race as of 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15. Some 96.38% of election returns have been processed.

Partial and unofficial tally shows President Rodrigo Duterte’s chosen candidates dominate the senatorial race. Some 96.34% of election returns have been processed as of 2:00 p.m. of Wednesday, May 15. 

The partial and unofficial tally of election results as of 11:27 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, have been released. Reelectionist Sen. Cynthia Villar keeps her hold of the top spot.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon tells media that the poll body is sure there was no manipulation of poll results.

.@COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Amelia Guanzon answers questions from the media. | via @ipcigaral #Election2019 pic.twitter.com/I4CknrmDpT

— Philstar.com (@PhilstarNews) May 15, 2019

"Wala pong daya. We are open to inquiries and third-party audit," she says.

Updates from the Comelec's transparency server stopped on Monday night and resumed more than seven hours later.

The Comelec said then that there was no problem with transmitting results to the server. The problem was in sending the data to the computers of media and watchdog groups.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, a candidate under the LP-led Otso Diretso slate, says in an interview on radio DZMM that the Commission on Elections should make sure glitches experienced during the 2019 elections will not happen in future polls.

He says, however, that the glitches do not mean that the autoamted election system was manipulated.

"Ang nangyaring vote buying ay man-made irregularities. Hindi mo masisisi ito sa mga vote-counting machines," he says.

(The vote-buying  incidents are man-made irregularities. You cannot blame those on vote-counting machines)

The results so far of the senatorial race following the May 13 midterm election are "likely supportive of political stability and the government's reform agenda," observes Nomura in its Global Markets Research Note released on May 14.

"Fiscal reform, which has been delayed and has lost some visibility, is likely back on the radar screen as a result of Duterte’s stronger support base in Congress after the mid-terms," the note read.

"Specifically, we believe the next package on fiscal incentive rationalization combined with corporate income tax cuts may now have a more realistic chance of enactment than not within this year."

The note, penned by senior economist Euben Paracuelles, added that the Senate race outcome dominated by allies of President Duterte is "unsurprising." (Report from BusinessWorld)

Here are the top 12 candidates as of 5:10 a.m. Based on Comelec's partial, unofficial tally of 96.6% of election returns, there was hardly any movement in rankings overnight. (View full results)

It's past 2 a.m. and nearly 96% of election results have been transmitted. Comelec's partial, unofficial tally retains the same 12 senatorial candidates as yesterday.

The Commission on Elections is starting to release its partial, official count, having verified 130 clustered precincts on Tuesday night.

If only these election returns would be considered, opposition slate Otso Diretso's last hope, Bam Aquino, would make it to the top 12 in the Senate race, keeping out Bong Revilla, who wants to make an Upper House comeback.

Total election returns processed has reached 95.57% as of 10:22 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. 

Partial and unofficial results, as of 9:22 p.m. of May 14, show domination by senatorial candidates endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Some 95.47% of the election returns have been tallied. 

Some 95.37% of election returns have been processed as of 8:22 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. 

Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte continue to dominate the 12 spots in the Senate. Below are the partial and unofficial results of the senatorial election as of 7:20 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. So far, 95.30% of election results have been tallied.

Sen. Cynthia Villar remains on top of the list of partial and unofficial results, followed by Sen. Grace Poe as of 5:53 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Some 95.17% of election results have been recorded. 

So far, 95.11% of election results have been tallied. Here are the partial and unofficial results of the senatorial election as of 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14.

Partial and unofficial results as of 3:50 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, are in. Some 95.02% of election results were so far tallied.
 

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 1:53 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Some 94.85% of election returns were processed.

Hugpong ng Pagbabago candidate Jiggy Manicad and cardiologist Willie Ong also accept their loss in this year's Senate race.

Manicad says now may not be the right time for his senatorial bid. Meanwhile, Ong tells his supporters to cheer up saying his choice to run was "100%" for them. 

Otso Diretso bets Samira Gutoc and Erin Tañada hold a press conference at the Liberal Party headquarters in Cubao, Quezon City where they announced that they are conceding in the Senate race.

Photo by The STAR/Michael Varcas

Partial and unofficial results as of 12:26 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. 

Senate hopeful Samira Gutoc addressed critics who questioned why the indelible ink mark was on her right thumb instead of her forefinger.

The peace advocate and Maranao leader explained that fasting for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan might have a role.

"Eh kasi syempre fasting yung nag-ano sa akin di baka na-nervous siya, yung BEI (Board of Election Inspectors), kung saan niya ilalagay yung ink. So she put it here. So, you know, no biggie diba," she said in a video posted on Facebook.

Ramadan is believed to be the month when the prophet Mohammed received from God the first verses of the Quran.

During this Islamic holy month, Muslims abstain from food and drinks, even water, from dawn until dusk.

While saying he accepts his defeat, lawyer Larry Gadon, whose campaign tagline centers on calls against stupidity, claims he was cheated.

"While not 100% in agreement with the election results, humbly accepts defeat knowing I was cheated .. I will continue my advocacy of exposing corruption in the government in the coming years," he says in a statement sent to media.

"Maliwanag na nagkadaayan, A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN CANVASSING DOES NOT MAKE SENSE.."

Peace advocate and Marawi civic leader Samira Gutoc concedes in the Senate race.

"It would’ve been an honor working for all of you. Thank you for giving me the chance."

It would’ve been an honor working for all of you. Thank you for giving me the chance.

— Samira Gutoc (@SamiraGutoc) May 14, 2019

As around 7% of ballots equivalent to three million votes are still to be counted in the unofficial tally, Otso Diretso campaign manager Sen. Kiko Pangilinan urges the public to stay vigilant.

"Let's wait for the final results and remain vigilant. Perhaps the remaining seven percent will still win one or two of our candidates. We will remain vigilant to the end," he says.

Opposition bet and re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino has dropped out of the winning circle, sitting at 14th place as of 11:26 a.m. with 13,707,133 votes.

He adds that they will continue to ask the Comelec to explain the series of irregularities in the voting and counting which cast doubts in the poll results.

Labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman says that even though it is unfortunate to think about his loss, he vows to continue fighting for workers' rights.

"Hindi tayo pinalad na makapasok sa winning Circle pero pumasok naman tayo sa puso ng mga kabataang estudyante at organisadong seksyon ng mga manggagawa," he says in a tweet.

Sa lahat ng ito, pagpapaabot ng pasasalamat sa inyong lahat na sumuporta at nangampanya para sa akin.

Hindi tayo pinalad na makapasok sa winning Circle pero pumasok naman tayo sa puso ng mga kabataang estudyante at organisadong seksyon ng mga manggagawa.

— Ka Leody de Guzman (@LeodyManggagawa) May 14, 2019

More senatorial candidates whose views are contrary to controversial policies of the Duterte administration concede defeat.

Lawyer Florin "Pilo" Hilbay and labor advocate Leody de Guzman follow Romy Macalintal's lead in accepting defeat relatively early in the race as 94% of election returns have been tallied.

Hilbay is currently ranked 29th, having earned more than 2.6 million votes, while De Guzman sits at 38th place with more than 862,000 votes gained.

Otso Diretso candidate Florin "Pilo" Hilbay accepts his defeat in the Senate race.

"The will of the people is supreme, so we respect the results of the elections. Congratulations to all the winners, may you serve the country well," he says in a Twitter post.

Maraming salamat, maraming salamat.  pic.twitter.com/9gf9yxYVdB

— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) May 14, 2019

Less than an hour before conceding from the Senate race, Hilbay posted a tweet thanking his supporters.

Mga Kababayan

One of the great privileges of my life was having to campaign for you & w/ you.

Maraming kwento ng kampanya: stories of hope, inspiration, commitment, grit, generosity, & grace, bound together by love of country. These, we must remember.

Salamat sa inyong lahat!

— Pilo Hilbay (@fthilbay) May 14, 2019

Here are the partial and unofficial results as of 9:46 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14.

After spending the past few years in detention over plunder charges, former senator Bong Revilla overtakes Nancy Binay in the senatorial race as of 8:12 a.m. with 93% of election returns transmitted to the Commission on Elections.

Revilla, now ranked 11th in the winning circle, is hoping for a Upper House comeback after he was cleared of plunder late last year over the multi-billion pork barrel scam.

He is still facing graft charges while his former chief aide remains in detention for plunder. (View full results)

Election lawyer Romy Macalintal, who ran for senator as part of opposition slate Otso Diretso, concedes from the race.

With 93% of election returns counted, Macalintal's rank stands at 26th as of 7:40 a.m. with 3.8 million votes.

He is among the first senatorial candidates to admit defeat.

With 93% of election returns transmitted, Comelec's counts show Sen. Koko Pimentel, a stalwart of ruling party PDP-Laban, firmly in place at 10th.

Nancy Binay and Bong Revilla are still holding on, keeping out candidates from Otso Diretso slate as well as incumbent Sen. JV Ejercito and former senator Jinggoy Estrada.

Full results here bit.ly/2LDZBV5

There was a momentary drop in the percentage of election results transmitted past 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

At 5:20 a.m., the Commission on Elections' transparency servers already processed more than 92% of election returns from precincts nationwide. But by past 6;20 a.m., this percentage returned to just 49%.

Voters for reelectionist Cynthia Villar, for one, already amounted to more than 24 million as of 5:20 a.m. Past 6:20 a.m., however, the servers showed she only received more than 12 million votes so far.

By 7:30 a.m. the results were restored to above 92%. The Comelec has yet to issue a statement on the incident.

Election Day aftermath has not been favorable for JV Ejercito, Bam Aquino and Jinggoy Estrada who are just outside the Magic 12 after more than 90% of votes transmitted and counted.

Incumbent Sen. Cynthia Villar has a commanding lead, with more than 24 million votes, followed by Grace Poe, another reelectionist, with more than 21 million votes.

Winners are expected to be proclaimed within the day.

Updates on the senatorial race following the May 13 midterm elections in the Philippines.

(Photo by The STAR/Michael Varcas)