By Ferdinand Patinio/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to proclaim the winners in the senatorial race within two weeks after the May 13 mid-term elections.
“We already have a tentative date for the proclamation of senators. We will announce it as we get closer, but it’s roughly within two weeks from voting,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a press briefing on Tuesday.
“In 2016, what we did was we proclaimed all 12. I think that’s what we’re going for now, sabay-sabay (simultaneously), hindi ‘yung (not) half and half,” the Comelec official said.
Those who will be elected as senators will serve for six years.
As for the winners in the local polls, the poll body official said that newly-elected officials will be declared at least within a day, at the earliest.
“Proclamation in the local level is expected very quickly, at the very lowest level it is expected to happen within 24 to 36 hours, a little higher than that, up to about 72 hours,” Jimenez added.
Jimenez also admitted that he was among those who participated in the local absentee voting (LAV).
“I voted for 12 senators today. It isn’t a straight slate. It’s a mix of various candidates,” he said.
The three-day voting period for the LAV started on Monday and will last until Wednesday. Voting hours is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
LAV voters totaling to 29,321 will be selecting candidates for national positions only, 12 senators and one-party list group.
Members of LAV are personnel from Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, other government employees and members of the media.
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