Comelec proclaims last three senators

The Commission on Elections en banc convening as the National Board of Canvassers proclaimed Senators Sergio Osmena III, Lito Lapid and Teofisto Guingona III as the last of the twelve senators to serve until 2016.

Earlier last Saturday, Comelec has proclaimed Ramon Revilla Jr, Jose Estrada, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Franklin Drilon, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pilar Juliana Cayetano, Ralph Recto and Vicente Sotto III.

Osmena garnered 11,583,854 votes, Lapid earned 10,971,045 while Guingona had 10,200,293 votes.

According to reports, the Comelec tally was based on 121 of the 274 certificates of canvass processed by the board of canvassers.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo however reportedly believes the remaining canvass will not materially affect the votes of the 10th to 12th ranking of winning senators. (PIA-Bohol)

Palace urges healing, cooperation with incoming administration

Malacanang on Tuesday called on everyone to unite and cooperate with the incoming administration so the Philippines will continue to move forward and achieve further development.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Press Undersecretary Rogelio Peyuan said that since the election are over, it is best for everyone—winners and losers alike, to “unite and work together” with the new administration for a better Philippines.

Peyuan also said Malacanang is leaving it to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to decide on the alleged irregularities during the May 10 polls. He added that the first fully automated polls is part of President Arroyo’s legacy so let us leave it to the COMELEC to assess the level of satisfaction on Smartmatic’s delivery of what was expected of them.

Peyuan said the European community and China, among other nations, have congratulated the Philippines for the conduct of a peaceful elections.

He advised those questioning the credibility of the May 10 polls to go slow and “observe a certain level of decency” in any act they take. (PIA-Bohol)

Poll machines pass 2nd round of tests

Manila, Philippines – Automated elections nationwide will push through this Monday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday with renewed optimism after the machine passed a second round of tests.

The results of testing PCOS machines in Metro Manila, showed a 100 percent match of manual and machine counts of votes.

Melo added however that manual counting should be held only in small municipalities where in case of a malfunction, a spare one is not immediately available.

Click here for full article from Philippine Star

High Court asked to halt automated polls

A PETITION was filed Wednesday before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to compel the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to stop the implementation of the automated polls this May 10.

In an 18-page petition, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM) led by lawyer Harry Roque Jr. asked the High Court to issue a temporary restraining order and/or a preliminary injunction to compel the Comelec to go back to manual counting of votes.

This is to preserve the integrity of the election in light of several glitches in the voting machines that were reported last Monday, the group said.

Named respondents in the suit were the Comelec, led by its chairman Jose Melo, Budget Joaquin Lagonera, and private consortium Smartmatic-TIM.

CCM is the same group that asked the SC to nullify the P7.2 billion poll automation deal between the Comelec and Smartmatic-TIM. (PIA-Bohol)

Comelec, Smartmatic,telcos sign deal for May 10 transmission

Manila, Philippines — Representatives of the Globe, PLDT, Smart, Digitel and satellite transmission providers met with officials of the Commission on Elections and Smartmatic-TIM for the signing of the contract for their services in the May 10 elections on Wednesday.

Renato Garcia, the Comelec’s IT consultant said, the three networks have agreed to provide Smartmatic-TIM a private channel which they can use for the transmission of the results from the precincts all the way to the national canvassing centers.

Click here for full article from Inquirer.net