Comelec proclaims winners in senatorial race

By Gillian M. Cortez, Reporter

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday proclaimed the top 12 in the 2019 senatorial race as the official winners in that contest.

The Comelec en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBoC), proclaimed the newly elected senators on Wednesday morning, after the NBoC finished its canvassing at midnight of a total of 167 certificates of canvass (COCs).

As per NBoC Resolution No. 002-19, the following are proclaimed senators serving the term of June 30 this year to June 30, 2025:

1. Cynthia A. Villar — 25,283,727; 2. Grace Poe-Llamanzares — 22,029,788; 3. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go — 20,657,702; 4. Pilar Juliana “Pia” S. Cayetano — 19,789,019; 5. Ronald “Bato” M. Dela Rosa — 19,004,225; 6. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara — 18,161,862; 7. Manuel “Lito” Lapid — 16,965,464; 8. Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” R. Marcos — 15,882,628; 9. Francis N. Tolentino — 15,510,026; 10. Aquilino Martin “Koko” D. Pimentel III — 14,668,665; 11. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. — 14,624,445; and 12. Maria Lourdes “Nancy” S. Binay — 14,504,936

“These 12 now stand with us here today to accept the responsibility and duty that we the voters have entrusted to them,” said Comelec Chairman Sheriff A. Abas in his opening statement at the proclamation.

Five of the proclaimed are reelectionists: Mses. Villar, Llamanzares, and Binay, and Messrs. Angara and Pimentel.

Three are former senators to serve fresh terms: Ms. Cayetano and Messrs. Lapid and Revilla.

And four are new personalities to serve in the Senate: Messrs. Go, Dela Rosa, and Tolentino, and Ms. Marcos.

As of this reporting, the NBoC will proclaim on Wednesday evening the 51 winning party-list groups. The top five leading party-list groups in the unofficial count are ACT-CIS, Bayan Muna, Ako Bicol, CIBAC, and Ang Probinsyano.

Mr. Abas said the Comelec is aware of criticisms on the character of some groups availing themselves of the party-list systems. “We will send our recommendations to Congress,” he said.

For his part, House Minority Leader Danilo E. Suarez said in a news conference that the poll body should look into the technical malfunctions in the automated elections. “Given the existing policies, the Minority calls for a revisit(ing) of the procurement process. We understand the intent of the laws. However, this should not lead to the deterioration of the quality of the supplies provided to the government, especially when it involves activities affecting the fundamental rights of the citizens,” he said. — with Vince Angelo C. Ferreras