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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has targeted to proclaim the 12 winning senators and party list groups within the week as the official canvassing of the senatorial and party list results was more than halfway through.
The Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, has tallied at least 82 out of the 173 certificates of canvass (COCs) from provincial and city boards and foreign posts for overseas absentee votes.
The 82 COCs accounted for nearly 29 million votes or 84.81 percent of the 34 million registered voters in those areas.
鈥淲e鈥檙e now on our third day of canvassing for senators and party lists. We have already done 82 COCs. That鈥檚 50.36 percent COCs canvassed. And we expect more [COCs canvassed] today, the third day,鈥� acting Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said on Thursday at a press briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center.
鈥淥nce we reach the point where we have covered most of the [COCs], and those remaining votes would no longer affect the results, the Comelec will not delay the proclamation,鈥� said Laudiangco.
Optimistic projection
鈥淥ur optimistic projection is in a week鈥檚 time 鈥� we will canvass the remaining COCs. We鈥檙e just waiting for a few COCs,鈥� he added.
Laudiangco said the 12 winning senators might be proclaimed ahead of the 63 party list groups.
鈥淔or the senators, it鈥檚 just a popularity vote. Whoever has the most number of votes among the candidates, or the Magic 12, those are already the winners. For the party lists, according to Republic Act No. 7941 or the Party List Act, and according to the decision of the Supreme Court, we have a formula to apply,鈥� Laudiangco said.
Laudiangco said they expected an overall voter turnout of between 80.5 percent and 81 percent, or about 54 million out of the 67 million registered voters.
The overseas absentee elections recorded a 34-percent turnout.
The 2016 presidential elections saw an 81.95-percent turnout or 44.5 million individuals who voted out of the 54 million registered voters.
The Comelec picked up the pace of official canvassing of senatorial and party list votes after a slow start on Day 1 last Tuesday when only eight COCs were canvassed.
READ: Senate starts receiving votes cast for president, VP ahead of canvassing