Comelec proclaims three more winning senatorial candidates

Published May 17, 2013 8:23pm

After tallying 113 certificates of canvass covering over 34 million votes, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed Friday night three more winning senatorial candidates in the 2013 elections, although only one of them was able to attend the ceremony.

The three were Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Antonio Trillanes IV, all from the administration coalition.

Of the three, only Aquino attended the proclamation at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Aquino is accompanied by his wife Maria Fatima Gomez-Aquino and the rest of his family who are dressed in yellow. He made a speech after receiving the certificate of proclamation, thanking his supporters.

Asked if he deems his proclamation valid despite the Comelec having canvassed only 113 of COCs, Aquino said the Comelec should be the one to answer.

“Syempre masaya at tuwang-tuwa kami… We are very happy to be proclaimed tonight.”

“Naging napakahaba ng elections natin, hard-fought, hindi siya naging madali, natutuwa nama tayo na naproclaim na tayo. We can already move on and start with the more important chapter which is working hard for our country. ”

Aquino said the Comelec has not told him the number of votes for his proclamation.

"Kung makikita mo naman ung unofficial and partial results, medyo malayo na rin naman 'yung lead ng mga candidates so I'm happy that they are already proclaiming," he said.

Trillanes was out of town while Pimentel said he was advised by his lawyer not to attend the ceremony.

"My lawyer tells me there are 5 million uncanvassed votes. You do not proclaim in that situation," Pimentel, son of former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., told GMA News Online by phone.

However, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. during the proclamation that Pimentel was "somewhat feeling ill."

“Medyo masama ang pakiramdam ko at meron akong disagreement sa pagproclaim kahapon at saka ngayon… medyo premature kasi sa pagkakaalam ko, magproclaim lang kayo kahit hindi pa nabibilang ang boto kung yung hindi pa nabibilang na boto ay hindi na pwedeng baguhin ang resulta,” Pimentel was quoted in a television report aired at GMA News Tv’s “State of the Nation.”

Trillanes, meanwhile, could not attend as he was out of town with his family and could not immediately get a flight back, according to his staff.

“Naplano na itong trip na ito long before the elections, na-foresee na po natin na medyo magtatagalan ‘yung canvassing at proclamation kaya naischedule natin itong ganito… Hindi naman po natin sinasadya na ganito ang nangyari.”

“Satisfied po tayo. We are very happy na bigyan ng mandato ulit ng ating mga kababayan.”

Pimentel and Trillanes are re-electionist senators, while Aquino, cousin of President Benigno Aquino III, is an entrepreneaur who has served in the National Youth Commission since 2011.

Brillantes said he is happy they have proclaimed nine senatorials in four days.

"It shows how fast the automated elections is. There is no delay. I don't know who's talking about delay," he said, referring to critics who have questioned the credibility of the proclamation.

Six other winning senatorial bets — Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Chiz Escudero, Nancy Binay and Sonny Angara — had earlier been proclaimed by the Comelec, which is sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, skipped the proclamation upon the advice of her lawyers.

Latest tally

Meanwhile, there were no changes in the rankings within the "Magic 12" based on the partial and official tally of the Comelec as of 6:18 p.m. covering 34,604,531 votes cast.

Here are the names of the candidates along with the number of votes cast for them based on the latest tally:

POE, GRACE   17,895,281

LEGARDA, LORNA REGINA 'LOREN' (NPC)   16,468,744

CAYETANO, ALAN PETER (NP)   15,453,195

ESCUDERO, FRANCIS 'CHIZ'   15,438,853

BINAY, MARIA LOURDES NANCY (UNA)   14,725,283

ANGARA, JUAN EDGARDO 'SONNY' (LDP)   14,079,635

AQUINO, PAOLO BENIGNO 'BAM' (LP)   13,466,762

PIMENTEL, AQUILINO MARTIN 'KOKO' (PDP)   12,860,609

TRILLANES, ANTONIO IV 'SONNY' (NP)   12,371,458

VILLAR, CYNTHIA 'MRS. HANEPBUHAY' (NP)   12,221,970

EJERCITO ESTRADA, JOSEPH VICTOR 'JV' (UNA)   12,026,870

HONASAN, GREGORIO 'GRINGO' (UNA)   11,669,991

GORDON, RICHARD 'DICK' (UNA)   11,261,192

ENRILE, JUAN PONCE JR. 'JACK' (NPC)   10,160,318

ZUBIRI, JUAN MIGUEL 'MIGZ' (UNA)   10,046,457

MAGSAYSAY, RAMON JR. 'JUN' (LP)   9,929,494

HONTIVEROS, ANA THERESIA 'RISA' (AKBAYAN)   9,666,484

HAGEDORN, EDWARD   7,582,899

VILLANUEVA, EDDIE 'BRO. EDDIE' (BP)   6,210,511

MADRIGAL, MARIA ANA CONSUELO 'JAMBY' (LP)   5,908,546

MAGSAYSAY, MA. MILAGROS 'MITOS' (UNA)   4,887,849

CASINO, TEODORO 'TEDDY' (MKB)   3,748,036

MACEDA, ERNESTO 'MANONG ERNIE' (UNA)   3,052,521

COJUANGCO, MARGARITA 'TINGTING' (UNA)   2,755,337

DELOS REYES, JOHN CARLOS 'JC' (KPTRAN)   1,063,738

ALCANTARA, SAMSON (SJS)   1,048,079

BELGICA, GRECO ANTONIOUS (DPP)   986,686

PENSON, RICARDO 'DICK'   906,543

DAVID, RIZALITO 'LITO' (KPTRAN)   892,476

MONTANO, RAMON   867,213

LLASOS, MARWIL (KPTRAN)   601,039

SENERES, CHRISTIAN (DPP)   597,128

FALCONE, BALDOMERO 'BAL' (DPP)   569,099

— Marc Jayson Cayabyab and Gian Geronimo/KBK, GMA News

Tags: eleksyon2013