Villar still up, Revilla climbs at 11th spot

May 18, 2019

With nine certificates of canvass ( COCs) left, Senator Cynthia Villar kept top spot with 24,199,174 votes as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) adjourned Saturday night.

As of 8 pm, the National Board of Canvassers has received 158 COCs out of 167.

Ten administration senatorial candidates and one independent, Senator Grace Poe, are in the lock for the 12 senatorial slots based on the partial and official count.

Poe has 21,183,332 votes followed by former special presidential aide Christopher ''Bong'' Go at third with 19,568,909, At fourth is Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano with 18,999,378 and former Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa fifth with 18,045,456.

In sixth is Senator Sonny Angara with 17,442,174; former Senator Lito Lapid seventh with 16,252,252; Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos eighth with 15,079,596; former presidential adviser Francis Tolentino with 14,741,637; and Senator Koko Pimentel with 13,948,863.

Former Senator Bong Revilla climbed at the 11th spot overtaking Senator Nancy Binay.

Revilla has 13,873,309 votes while Binay got 13,784,692.

Senator JV Ejercito is 13th place with 13,677,424 votes while opposition bet Senator Bam Aquino now at the 14th place with 13,675,820.

For partylist organizations, ACT-CIS is still leading with 2,528,353 votes followed by Bayan Muna with 1,089,339 votes, AKO Bicol with 1,043,326 votes, Cibac with 911,080 votes, Ang Probinsyano with 736,545 votes, 1Pacman with 736,545 votes, Marino with 643,944 votes, Probinsyano Ako with 607,439 votes, Senior Citizens with 499,243 votes and APEC with 479,119 votes.

The NBOC resumed their session at 1:59 pm and adjourned around 8:15 pm.

The Comelec said proclamation for the winners will not likely happen on Sunday as they still need four local, four overseas and one persons deprived of liberty (PDL) voting.

In a press briefing, Commission on Elections (COMELEC) - Education and Information Department (EID) Assistant Director Frances Arabe, the NBOC is not yet inclined to proclaim winners for national posts despite earlier saying it is a possibility.

"We cannot ascertain when we can hold the proclamation because we are still waiting for some COCs," said Arabe in Pasay City.

They are still awaiting COCs transmission from Lanao del Sur, Isabela, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Persons Deprived of Liberty.

Similarly, COCs from Nigeria, Washington DC, Tokyo, and Riyadh have yet to arrive.

Even in the event that the nine COCs have been tallied on Sunday, Arabe said they still cannot make the proclamation later in the day.

"We cannot do that yet because we have to set up the area, and also notify our winning senators properly," she said.

The Comelec is also eyeing for a special voting in Jones, Isabela on May 20 and lowering the "threshold" of votes in San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur after armed men torched vote counting machines that mat affect votes for local and partylist candidates. DMS/ Ella Dionisio