By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) on Monday afternoon suspended the national canvassing for senators and party lists since there are still no votes to canvass.
Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said they decided to suspend the proceedings early as they do not expect transmission of votes.
“The Commission en banc, through the chairman (Saidamen Pangarungan), declared the early suspension since the vote-counting machines (VCMs) and the reports from VCMs are not yet transmitting. It will still pass through the MBOC (Municipal Board of Canvassers) and the PBOC (Provincial Board of Canvassers). Remember, the closing of the voting period is generally by 7 p.m.,” she said in a press briefing.
“So after that, that’s the time they will start counting, so there is no point waiting because we have not received any results, that’s why we will resume tomorrow (May 10) when the MBOC starts transmitting,” she said.
The NBOC is set to resume at 1 p.m. Tuesday (May 10).
Comelec acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the decision of the en banc is not a postponement.
“It’s really a suspension of proceedings, more like a declaration of recess, a continuing quorum, no adjournment. We will continue, we will have a continuing quorum and we will resume the session tomorrow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the counting of votes in the local polls is continuing, it was the national canvassing that has been suspended.
“The national canvassing for senators and party lists has been suspended since there (are) still no COCs (Certificates of Canvass), which will come later. Still zero pa. But the canvassing of municipal, city and provincial (votes) will continue after the (election) tonight,” he said.
The NBOC officially convened on Monday at around 3 p.m. Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan declared the session suspended an hour later. (PNA)
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