Comelec sees proclamation of winning senators, party-lists on Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines— The Commission on Elections on Monday said the proclamation of winners in the senatorial and party-list races is expected on Tuesday, May 21.

“I think at this point it's a pretty sure bet that we're gonna have a proclamation tomorrow,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez said the proclamation of winning party-lists will be done in the morning while the proclamation of senators-elect will be held in the evening.

He said there will be an interval between proclamations to prepare the venue.

Jimenez said the proclamation is likely to happen on Tuesday because the Comelec, sitting as National Board of Canvassers, is only waiting to tabulate the last five certificates of canvass out of 167 COCs.

The remaining COCs account for a total of 1,683,938 votes.

Jimenez said if all COCs are canvassed on Monday evening and other issues are resolved by then, the proclamation of poll winners will push through as planned.

At 1:45 p.m., the NBOC resumed its session to continue the counting of votes. However, it adjourned after a few minutes since the COCs had not yet arrived.

The NBOC are waiting for COCs from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Washington DC, Nigeria, and Isabela.

Special elections are currently being held in Barangay Dicamay 1 in Jones, Isabela, where there are more than 700 registered voters. The special elections are being held because vote counting machines for the barangay were intentionally burned during the polls last May 13.

READ: Comelec to hold special polls in Isabela barangay where VCMs were burned

Here’s a breakdown of the number voters from COCs left to be canvassed according to Jimenez:

• Isabela Province – 1,050,681

• Japan – 76,166

• Saudi Arabia – 326,620

• USA – 228,472

• Nigeria – 1,999

Jimenez said the canvassing of COCs is on track. He said the NBOC is ahead of schedule since it proclamation in past polls were held eight days after voting. He said canvassing this year only took a week "considering all the troubles encountered."

He was referring to complaints in the delays of transmission as well as complaints in vote counting machine errors.

The proclamation of winning candidates will also be held in the NBOC command center at the Philippine International Convention Center.