By Ferdinand Patinio/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to have separate proclamations for the 12 new senators and winning party-list organizations in the just-concluded May 13, 2019 midterm polls.
“I don’t think it will be both party-lists and senators being proclaimed (at the same time),” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez in an interview late Thursday.
He noted that they would like the winners at the national level to have their own moments.
“We don’t want anyone to steal anyone’s thunder so to speak. It was a jarred fight in the elections and each category deserve their own event,” the poll body official said.
Jimenez added that it is the senators that are likely to be proclaimed first as they still have yet to determine the seat allocation for winning party-lists.
“With the party-lists, we still have to complete the computation. So the process is longer. Maybe three days apart. But I can tell you that we are already preparing for it (proclamation),” Jimenez said.
As of Thursday evening, the NBOC has already canvassed 107 out of the 167 Certificates of Canvass (COCs).
Based on the latest partial and official results from the Comelec, the top 12 senatorial bets are re-electionists Cynthia Villar and Grace Poe; former top presidential aide Bong Go; former senator Pia Cayetano; retired Philippine National Police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa; re-electionist Sonny Angara; former senator Lito Lapid; Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos; former presidential adviser on political affairs Francis Tolentino; re-electionists Koko Pimentel and Nancy Binay; and opposition senator Bam Aquino.
Meanwhile, the top 10 in the party-list race are ACT-CIS, Bayan Muna, Ako Bicol, CIBAC, Ang Probinsyano, 1Pacman, Marino, Probinsyano Ako, Senior Citizens and Magsasaka.
On the other hand, the top 20 groups in the party-list race are ACT-CIS; Ako Bicol; Bayan Muna; CIBAC; Ang Probinsyano; 1PACMAN; Probinsyano Ako; An Waray; Senior Citizens; APEC; Marino; Magsasaka; Abono; Gabriela; Tingog Sinirangan; Ako Bisaya; COOP-NATCCO; PHILRECA; Act Teachers and Buhay.
In the 2016 elections, the Comelec also conducted separate proclamations for senators and party-lists.
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