The camp of senatorial candidate former Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa is pushing for the partial proclamation of the Top 6 winning senators in the May 13 midterm polls.
In an interview, lawyer Abdul Basar believes there is no reason anymore to delay the proclamation of the first six who are already assured of victory.
“So it is our position in the interest of justice and the speedy disposition of this case our candidate be proclaimed without waiting for the other results which will be very minimal,” he said.
“Now at the moment, only a few left uncanvassed such as overseas absentee voting…Those are very minimal. So we maintain what we proposed the senator shall be proclaimed. The difference is wide already,” added Basar.
Dela Rosa is in fifth place with 18,045,456 votes based on Saturday’s partial and official tally of the Comelec sitting as the National Board of Canvassers.
Other candidates in the Top 6 are Sen. Cynthia Villar (first) with 24,199,174; Sen Grace Poe (second) with 21,183,332; former presidential aide Bong Go (third) with 19,568,909; Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano (fourth) with 18,999,378; and Sen. Sonny Angara (sixth) with 17,442,174.
Comelec-Education and Information Department Assistant Director Frances Arabe said the decision to hold a partial proclamation of winners depends on the en banc. “It depends on the Comelec en banc. If we can do a partial, we can make a partial (proclamation),” she said.
Arabe said the Top 6 senatorial aspirants may already be considered as sure winners and the proclamation may be this week. “Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. As long as we get the CoCs that we are waiting for,” said Arabe. As of Saturday, the NBoC has canvassed 158 out of 167 CoCs. (Leslie Aquino)
