Aquino proclamation set

The next president, likely Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and possibly the next vice president of the country are expected to be officially proclaimed on Monday, June 7.

This was revealed Monday night by Speaker Prospero Nograles as he noted that less than 35 percent of the 278 certificates of canvass (CoCs) have not yet been tabulated with the joint national canvassing committee left two days to count the remainder.

Pointing out that Congress has done its part of speeding up the canvassing of election returns for the presidential and vice presidential races and the eventual proclamation of the winners, Nograles said he also expects the Supreme Court, which will act as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), to fast-track its decision on electoral protests should there be one.

Aquino s predicted to win the presidential race having led almost throughout the national canvassing of votes by the 18-man committee composed of House of Representatives and Senate members.

Running second to Aquino is former President Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) who garnered 5,927,990 votes.

With the deferment of tabulation of 14 CoCs as of Tuesday night, a forecast of the vice presidential race winner is not possible.

Aquino’s runningmate, Sen. Manuel Roxas, and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino are still slugging it out for the lead, although the latter has maintained a slim lead as of press time yesterday.

Binay posted 9,048,351 votes on Tuesday night while Roxas chalked up 8,749,968 after the canvassing of 189 of 278 CoCs, or a difference of 298,383 votes.

Lawyers for several candidates appeared headed to the PET as they continued to badger the canvassing panel with objections on various issues that could set the stage for an election protest.

Lawyers for Roxas, together with Senator Jamby Madrigal, sought the deferment of canvassing in cities and provinces where counting were allegedly discontinued to pave the way for the early proclamation of winning local candidates.

They cited a certification issued by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Executive Director Jose Tolentino that the poll body agreed to lower the threshold of counting in areas where there is no possibility that vote margins posted by leading candidates can still be overtaken.

The huge number of null votes for vice president, reaching 800,000 as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, is also expected to be brought to the PET. The number represents nearly 12 percent of all votes canvassed.

“We in the joint canvassing committee are tasked to make sure that all votes cast by our people on May 10 are counted properly. It will be a disservice to our people if we do an incomplete canvass at the national level,” said Camarines Norte Rep. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato, an ally of Roxas.

In four days of canvassing, Congress, acting as the National Board of Canvassers, was able to canvass an average of 47 CoCs per day, starting off with the manually transmitted returns from 174 overseas absentee voting centers throughout the world.

Nograles said there remained a possibility that proclamation can be made Thursday but the June 7 schedule is a “safe” prediction.

Earlier, the House leader set June 4 as the target of proclamation of the winners in the presidential and vice presidential race but the closing ceremonies of the Lower House made it impossible for the joint canvassing panel to meet the schedule.

Last Monday, Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, who both head the canvassing body, agreed to defer canvassing session on Friday to give way to the closing ceremonies of both chambers.

Aquino won in almost all provinces and cities. Among these are: Surigao del Norte; Bulacan, Catanduanes, Laguan, Benguet, Masmate, Albay, Paranaque City, Sorsogon, Aklan, Bohol, Cebu, Camarines Sur, Agusan del Norte, Compostela Valley, Tarlac, Cavite, Marinduque, Mandaluyong City and Bataan.

On the other hand, Estrada took Misamis Oriental, Cagayan, Occidental Mindoro, Saranggani, Isabela, Quirino, and Zamboanga City.

Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., who is number 4 in the race, won in Camiguin, Dinagat Island, and Guimaras.

In the vice presidential race, Binay enjoyed the lead in the following cities and provinces: Nueva Vizcaya, Paranaque City, Cagayan, Sorsogon, Occidental Mindoro, Saranggani, Isabela, Misamis Oriental, Bulacan, Manila, Catanduanes, Laguna, Quirino, Compostela Valley, Zamboanga City, Bataan, Cavite and Mandaluyong City.

Roxas won in Negros Oriental, Guimaras, Marinduque, Cebu, Camarines Sur, Agusan del Norte, Tarlac, Surigao del Norte, Benguet, Masbate, Albay, Aklan, Bohol, and Zamboanga del Norte.

Actor Edu Manzano, Teodoro’s running mate, led in Camiguin and Dinagat Island. Like Teodoro, Manzano is ranked fourth.

Official count as of 9 p.m. on June 1:

For President: Benigno C. Aquino III , 9,564,943; Joseph Estrada, 5,927,990; Manuel Villar, 3,333,558; Gilberto Teodoro Jr., 2,480,185; Eduardo Villanueva, 722,857; Richard Gordon, 270,781; Vetellano Acosta, 118,351; Nicanor Perlas, 33,730; Jamby Madrigal, 30,553; JC de los Reyes, 28,297.

For Vice President: Jejomar Binay, 9,048,351; Manuel Roxas, 8,749,968; Loren Legarda, 2,570,103; Bayani Fernando, 582,162; Edu Manzano, 497,296; Perfecto Yasay, 232,135; Jay Sonza, 37,919.