Only less than four percent of poll results have yet to be transmitted

05/12/2010 | 09:34 PM
KIMBERLY JANE T. TAN, GMANews.TV




Original Story: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190828/only-less-than-four-percent-of-poll-results-have-yet-to-be-transmitted


Only less than four percent of election results from precincts all across the Philippines have yet to be transmitted, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday.

The results, which represent less than 1.5 million voters, were not immediately transmitted to the Comelec’s main servers in Manila, among other recipients, because of issues with transmission hardware, a poll official said.

The Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) in these areas are still waiting for replacements of either malfunctioning precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines (equipment used to count and transmit votes) or defective compact flash cards (which contain instructions for PCOS machines to read ballots).

"Imbis na nagtransmit, naghihintay pa ng replacement... nagkakaroon ng delay (Instead of transmitting, the Board of Election Inspectors are still waiting for replacements and that causes a delay)," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters on Wednesday.

Adding to the delay was the refusal of some BEIs to manually count the votes after having discovered that the machines or their CF cards were malfunctioning, Smartmatic Asia president Cesar Flores said.

Smartmatic-TIM was chosen as the Comelec’s poll machine supplier.

Teachers usually opted to keep the ballots inside the ballot box until the replacement PCOS units or CF cards arrived, Flores said.

"It shows that the teachers really embrace automation, they don't want to go manual again," he told GMA News.

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the Comelec has received 96.31 percent of the election returns from the 76,347 clustered precincts nationwide, Jimenez said.

"That represents less than 1.5 million voters... malamang tapos na yan (but that's probably over by now)," he told reporters in an interview.

However, he could not immediately identify the areas where these results have yet to be transmitted.

The Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), will consolidate the votes and declare the winners both for the senatorial and the party-list races.

On the other hand, Congress, also sitting as the NBOC, will proclaim the president and vice president. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV


Original Story: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190828/only-less-than-four-percent-of-poll-results-have-yet-to-be-transmitted

Metro winners known, proclaimed early after first automated polls

By THE MANILA BULLETIN STAFF
May 11, 2010, 6:17pm








Original Story: http://mb.com.ph/articles/256921/metro-winners-known-proclaimed-early-after-first-automated-polls


The first automated polls in the country saw winners being proclaimed early in Metro Manila.


Binays win big in Makati

Makati City Councilor Erwin "Jun-Jun" Binay has succeeded his father, United Opposition vice presidential bet Jejomar Binay, as mayor of the Makati City, the country's central business district.

Binay was proclaimed winner by officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) city board of canvassers at the Makati Coliseum where the canvassing of votes was held.

Witnessing the proclamation rites were Binay's family, including his father and mother, and supporters near dawn Tuesday.

Binay garnered 125,664 votes over five candidates in the mayoralty race. Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado placed in second with 80,151, Erwin Genuino, son of Philippine Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) chairman Ephraim Genuino, landed in third place with 61,203 votes. Former senator Butch Aquino got 4,394 votes while Edmundo Tagalog received 253 votes, both are independent candidates.

Binay vowed to continue the programs and services that his father started.

The Comelec also proclaimed Romulo Peña Jr., running mate of Mercado as vice mayor with 105,949 votes. Peña won against Rico Puno who received 93429 votes, Jobelle Salvador who got 35,469 votes, Mace Yabut with 23,600 votes and Manny Ballelos, 1507 votes.

Abigail Binay, daughter of Jejomar, dominated the congressional race in the second district with 84,152. Monique Yasmin Lagdameo, under Binay’s ticket, emerged winner as member of the House of Representatives for the first district.

New members of the city council for the first district are Ferdie Eusebio (PDP-Laban), Maria Concepcion Yabut (Nationalista Party), Tosca Puno-Ramos (PDP-Laban), Virgilio Hilario Sr. (NP), Marie Casal-Uy (PDP-Laban), Monsour Del Rosario (NP), Arnold Magpantay (PDP-Laban), and Romeo Medina (PDP-Laban).

New members of the city council for the second district are Vincent Sese (NP), King Yabut (NP), Nelson Pacia (PDP-Laban), Salvador Pangilinan (NP), Leonardo Magpantay (NP), Ma. Theresa De Lara (NP), Mary Ruth Tolentino (NP), Henry Jacome (NP).


It’s now Mayor Bautista

After hours of tense and anxious moments, the local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Quezon City proclaimed Herbert Bautista and Josefina Belmonte as mayor and vice-mayor respectively winning by landslide margin over their highly touted rivals.

At exactly 11 a.m. Tuesday, the local Comelec office also proclaimed all the city’s winning bets several hours after most of them demanded that they be declared as winners even in the wee hours of the morning.

Bautista obtained a vote of 497, 965 while his closest rival Mike Defensor garnered a vote of 126,246.

District two congresswoman Annie Rosa Susano got 68, 035 while former three-term mayor Mel Mathay garnered 22, 117 votes.

In the vice-mayoral race, Belmonte got 501, 129 defeating actress Aiko Melendez who got 121,941 votes.

Incumbent district one congressman Vincent “Bingbong’’ Crisologo garnered 78, 610 Lucio Tan daughter and heiress Vivienne Tan.

In district two councilor Winston “Winnie’’ Castelo brother of outgoing representative Nanette Castelo-Daza gained 129, 660 beating former representatives Chuck Mathay, Dante Liban and three-term councilors Allan Butch Francisco and Godofredo Voltaire Liban.

Two term councilor Jorge “Bolet’’ Banal Jr. obtained a vote of 37, 408 votes beating incumbent district congressman Matias Defensor who got only 30, 887 in his bid for a third term in congress.

Outgoing mayor Feliciano “Sonny’’ Belmonte Jr. reclaimed his old post as congressman of the fourth district garnering 99, 474 votes winning by landslide over unheralded opponents.


Abalos dominates Mandaluyong

The Commission on Elections in Mandaluyong proclaimed Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. winner of the mayoral race at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the City Gymnasium where the local canvassing of votes took place.

Abalos garnered 102,705 votes to rival Erbert Domingo-Buan’s 24,271 votes.

Also proclaimed was Mandaluyong City vice mayor elect Danny De Guzman who defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Rene Sta. Maria 63,756 votes to 57,438.

Election officials in Malabon proclaimed incumbent Mayor Tito Oreta, re-electionist Rep. Josephine Veronique Lacson, and Councilor Len-len Oreta as the vice-mayor elect.

Oreta garnered 104,245 votes while running unopposed for reelection, Lacson got 52,815 votes in a win over incumbent vice mayor Arnold Vicencio.

The proclamation was held at the Session Hall located at the 6th floor of the City Hall right after the canvassing of votes was completed, Malabon Comelec officer Frances Aguindadao said.


San Pedro cruises to victory

Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro won in the mayoralty race in the city, cruising to a second term victory with a margin of more than 30,000 votes over his nearest rival.

Mayor San Pedro beat former mayor Jaime Fresnedi and Oscar Marmeto in the race.

“I thank the people of Muntinlupa for giving me again their trust and confidence. I and my family are overwhelmed by their support,” the mayor told the Manila Bulletin.

Mayor San Pedro was scheduled to be proclaimed by the Comelec Tuesday afternoon along with other winners in the local elections in Muntinlupa.


The mayor’s party mates also won in the election.

Senator Rodolfo Biazon beat REGALAbroadcaster Ricardo “Dong” Puno Jr. and five other candidates in the congressional race in Muntinlupa. Biazon will replace his son Ruffy, who completed three terms as Muntinlupa’s congressman and ran for senator in the elections under the Liberal Party.

Incumbent Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac edged out Councilor Marissa Cole-Rongavilla in the vice mayoralty race to win a second term.

Mayor San Pedro’s candidates for councilor also won 75 percent of the seats in Muntinlupa’s two legislative districts.


Lim defeats Atienza anew

Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim’s margin against his closest rivals widened by garnering 387,048 votes after 95.21 percent election returns were already transmitted to the Manila Board of Canvassers (BOC) last night.

The Manila Board of Canvassers said Lim was leading with 387,048 votes from 1,372 clustered precincts. His closest rivals - former city mayor and former Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Jose "Lito" Atienza got 176,786 votes and former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Avelino Razon got 82,910 votes.

Lim expressed gratitude to Manila residents who have voted for him and his running mate Isko Moreno.

"Salamat sa lahat ng bumoto at naniwala sa amin at sa mga di pumayag na umiral ang kasinungalan (Thanks to those who voted us and believed in us. Thank your for letting that truth to prevail over lies), he said.

After the Manila Board of Canvassers announced the partial and unofficial tally from the election returns, supporters began cheering.

Prior to that, the Comelec announced that it would likely proclaim the winners the moment the board reaches the 90 percent mark.

Legal counsels of Lim approached the Board of Canvassers (BOC) to inquire why it has yet to proclaim Lim and Moreno as winners because it was statistically improbable for his closest rivals Atienza and Razon to win over Lim.

They said the remaining six percent would not affect the result of the elections.

However, BOC chairman lawyer Jovencio Balanquit explained that they could not proclaim until they print out the entire results of the transmittal. He also explained that they cannot proceed with the printout because the remaining six percent is still material for the other elective posts- both national and local post.

Lim decided to go home as the BOC still decided not to proceed with the proclamation despite getting the 95% plus election returns.


Bernabe-Tambunting reelected

In Parañaque City Mayor Florencio Bernabe, Jr. and running mate Vice-Mayor Gus Tambunting were both re-elected.

The running mates, along with other winners in local elections in Paranaque were expected to be proclaimed at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

In a final but unofficial Comelec tally, Bernabe garnered 87,1276 votes compared Rep. Ed Zialcita’s 70,372, and Joey Marquez’s 39,459.

Representative Roilo Golez run unopposed in the city’s second district, while Edwin Olivarez was ahead of Roland Bernabe in the Comelec tally for the city’s first district.

Winning councilors in the first district are Rufino Allanigue, Eric Baes, Raquel Gabriel-Velasco, Alma Moreno-Salic, Jason Webb, Eric Olivarez, Boc Inciong and Roselle Nava.

Councilor Rico Golez led other winning candidates in the second district which included Edwin Benzon, Florencia Amurao, Conchita Bustamante, Benjo Bernabe, Carlito Antipuesto, Valmar Sotto, and Ryan Yllana.

Yllana is the lone winning councilor from Zialcita’s camp. (With reports from Anna Liza T. Villas, Carlo Suerte Felipe, Ed Mahilum, James I. Catapusan, Willie Catapat, Jonathan Hicap, Jeamma E. Sabate, Chito Chavez)


Original Story: http://mb.com.ph/articles/256921/metro-winners-known-proclaimed-early-after-first-automated-polls

Vote-map: Aquino takes even Estrada country

By Tarra Quismundo,
Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:08:00 05/13/2010




Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Elections, Benigno Aquino III, Joseph Estrada


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100513-269658/Vote-map-Aquino-takes-even-Estrada-country


MANILA, Philippines—President-elect most likely Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III continues to lead in most provinces across the country, taking vote-rich areas and even the bailiwick of reluctant runner-up, deposed President Joseph “Erap” Estrada.

A parallel tally by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) as of 8:01 p.m. Wednesday placed the votes for Aquino at 13,673,897 out of results from 89.03 percent of precincts counted so far.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stopped updating the tallies for the presidential and vice presidential races on Tuesday after lawyers of losing candidates accused it of preempting the function of Congress to canvass tabulations for the two top posts.

The poll body’s tabulation covered 78.5 percent of the electronically transmitted election returns.

Leads in vote-rich provinces

Of the nine presidential candidates, only Aquino, Estrada, Manuel Villar and Gilbert Teodoro led in certain provinces, with the front-runner capturing most of the vote-rich areas.

“It’s who’s leading at that particular time. We’re not saying who won in any particular area. So we’re not trending and it doesn’t mean that the other candidates didn’t get any votes,” said Ana de Villa-Singson, PPCRV media and communications director.

A vote-mapping by the PPCRV showed that Aquino was still leading in most provinces, getting solid votes so far from Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), provinces in the Caraga region and most of the Bicol region.

Up north, Aquino was also leading in Batanes, Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province and remained ahead in parts of Central Luzon, including the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales.

Precincts from vote-rich Cebu, Pangasinan, provinces in Eastern Visayas as well as Maguindanao, which transmitted results, also gave most of the votes to Aquino. He is also ahead in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

San Juan for Aquino

Most of Metro Manila has so far gone to Aquino, including Estrada’s hometown of San Juan City and that (Makati City) of his running mate.

Estrada was leading in Navotas while Villar, who already accepted defeat, won in his bailiwick, Las Piñas City.

The former actor is also ahead in Abra, Apayao, Kalinga, La Union and provinces in the Cagayan Valley. Estrada was also leading in Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Occidental Mindoro, Palawan and Catanduanes.

In Mindanao, Estrada was also leading in Zamboanga Sibugay, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Northern Cotabato, Sarangani and South Cotabato. Davao has so far given the plunder convict a solid vote.

Villar was leading only in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Biliran while Teodoro was ahead in Guimaras and Camiguin.

The stiff vice presidential contest between Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay split votes from seven regions.

Ilocos split

As of the 10:55 a.m. regional updates provided by the PPCRV, Ilocos was split in terms of delivering votes, with Roxas dominating in Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan and Binay leading in Ilocos Norte and La Union.

Roxas and Binay were also in a tug-of-war in Central Luzon as majority of the votes in Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales went to the senator.

But Binay continued to be No. 1 in the “vote-rich” provinces of Bataan, Bulacan and Nueva Ecija as well as in Aurora, according to Singson.

Bicol mixed

In the Bicol Region, Binay dominated in Camarines Norte, Catanduanes and Sorsogon while Roxas led in Albay, Camarines Sur and Masbate.

Eastern Visayas was also torn between the two vice presidential candidates, but Binay got the largest share of votes from Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte and Western Samar. Roxas dominated only in Northern Samar and Southern Leyte.

Although Zamboanga Peninsula was turning into a Binay country, garnering votes from a larger portion of the region, Roxas dominated in Zamboanga del Norte.

Binay led Roxas in Lanao del Sur and Misamis Oriental while Roxas was leading in Bukidnon and Misamis Occidental—all in Northern Mindanao.

Solid brown

The Cordillera Administrative Region was also “evenly split” with Binay leading in Abra, Apayao and Kalinga and Roxas in Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province.

Aside from the concrete jungle of Makati, Binay also dominated in the restive jungles of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Soccksargen, where a color-coded map of the Philippines showed a solid brown, representing Binay’s votes, in these two regions.

Roxas won in the provinces at the country’s northern and southern tips, garnering the majority of the votes in Batanes and Tawi-Tawi.

But Singson said the PPCRV had yet to tally election returns from 3,379 precincts in the ARMM, which registered the lowest transmission rate of 68.9 percent.

Metro Manila mostly for Binay

Metro Manila, which registered the highest transmission rate of 95.98 percent, was surprisingly a “Binay country,” except for Marikina City where Roxas dominated. Only 304 precincts have yet to transmit election returns to the PPCRV server at the Pius Center.

Binay also continued to be No.1 in the race in Cagayan Valley, Southern Tagalog and Davao regions.

Roxas continued to win in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, the Caraga region, Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), except in Occidental Mindoro and Palawan, where Binay took the lead.

Erap behind by 5M votes

In the count by the Comelec-accredited PPCRV, Estrada got 8,652,783, still behind by 5 million with just 11 percent of the total votes yet to be counted. Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Manuel Villar was a far third at 4,943,689.

Administration candidate Gilbert Teodoro Jr. received 3,642,048 votes.

In the vice presidential race, Roxas was barely catching up with Binay, who got 13,327,990 votes.

Binay was leading by 786,768 votes, garnering 40.78 percent of the total votes from 68,083 polling precincts based on the partial unofficial Comelec transmission of election returns.

Roxas was nailed to the second spot with 12,541,222 votes (38.37 percent) followed far behind by Sen. Loren Legarda with 3,747,705 votes.

Transmission slowing down

With almost 10 percent of election returns yet to be tallied, results came in trickles for the parallel count by the PPCRV as transmission from voting machines and the Comelec central server slowed down.

Singson told reporters that the parallel count would not cover 100 percent of the country’s 76,475 clustered precincts as elections failed in several Mindanao towns.

“We probably won’t be able to give a 100-percent count because there was already a failure of elections in Lanao del Sur. So it will probably be a 98- to 99-percent count,” she said.

She could not say how soon the accredited citizen’s arm could finish consolidating the expected results because of the current transmission rate.

Officers of automation contractor Smartmatic-TIM had told Singson on a visit to the PPCRV Wednesday that the last few results would come in quite slow.

“It’s really slowing down because some of the things we’re getting are no longer coming straight from the PCOS (precinct count optical scan) machines. Some of them are transmitted through canvassing offices,” Singson said.


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20100513-269658/Vote-map-Aquino-takes-even-Estrada-country

Across nation: Arroyo son wins in Bicol; other Palace men fall

By Inquirer Visayas, Inquirer Northern Luzon, Inquirer Mindanao
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:01:00 05/13/2010





Filed Under: Inquirer Politics, Eleksyon 2010, Elections


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100513-269660/Across-nation-Arroyo-son-wins-in-Bicol-other-Palace-men-fall


MANILA, Philippines—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s son was among the winners in Monday’s elections, but some of her allies and erstwhile Cabinet members were not as fortunate in the congressional and gubernatorial races.

The President was expected to be proclaimed Wednesday night as representative of Pampanga’s second district. She garnered 169,109 votes, swamping Filipinas Sampang (7,150), Feliciano Serrano (3,586) and Adonis Simpao (20,922), a final tally of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed.

The President’s son, Rep. Diosdado Ignacio “Dato” Arroyo, won overwhelmingly in his reelection bid against Fermin Mabulo, incumbent mayor of San Fernando town in Camarines Sur province.

Dato Arroyo garnered 69,104 votes while Mabulo had 26,133. The seven-town second district has a total number of 148,451 voters.

In 2007, Arroyo beat Mabulo’s older brother in the congressional race in the first district before a legislative reapportionment added a fifth district in the province.

Andaya win, Devanadera loss

Other winners in the congressional races in Camarines Sur were Ms Arroyo’s former Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya (first district) and House allies, Luis Villafuerte (third district) and Arnulfo Fuentebella (fourth district).

But the President’s erstwhile Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera of Lakas-Kampi-CMD appeared headed for a resounding defeat in the congressional race in Quezon’s first district.

Based on a partial tally of the Comelec, reelectionist Rep. Mark Enverga (Nacionalista Party) got 84,857 votes while Devanadera received only 67,083.

Enverga is the son of three-term Gov. Wilfrido Enverga, who had also served as representative of the first district for nine years.

In Bacolod City’s mayoral race, Ms Arroyo’s close ally, Rep. Monico Puentevella (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), lost by more than 7,000 votes to the incumbent, Evelio Leonardia (Nationalist People’s Coalition).

Imelda’s brod loses

While the Marcoses in Ilocos Norte are celebrating their victory, the same mood could not be said of their kin in Tacloban City in Leyte province.

Alfredo “Bejo” Romualdez, younger brother of former first lady and now an elected congresswoman, Imelda Marcos, was trounced by his lone rival for the position of city vice mayor.

Based on the official count of the city board of canvassers, the 76-year-old Bejo (Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino) obtained only 35,321 votes against reelectionist Vice Mayor Jose Arvin Antoni (Liberal Party), who received 38,731 or a difference of 3,410 votes.

However, Bejo’s son, Alfred, reelectionist city mayor, and daughter-in-law, Cristina, were proclaimed winners on Tuesday night. Alfred won by a landslide over his rival while Cristina landed No. 2 out of 38 candidates who sought council seats.

Osmeña party sweep

In Cebu City, Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) dominated the elections when all of its candidates from representative for two districts, mayor, vice mayor, the city council won handily over their opponents.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama of the BOPK-LP beat former Mayor Alvin Garcia of Kugi Uswag Sugbo, which was affiliated with the Nacionalista Party (NP) in the mayoral race. Rama had 210,520 votes while Garcia had 120,327.

In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes won his reelection bid against Rep. Nerissa Soon Ruiz of the sixth district. Cortes got 77,082 votes against Ruiz’s 59,815.

In the gubernatorial race, incumbent Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia was leading her closest opponent, Hilario Davide III, son of retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.

But Davide gave Garcia a good fight, winning in some of her bailiwicks.

Ampatuans leading?

Jailed Ampatuan patriarch Andal Sr. was slightly ahead in the vice gubernatorial race in Maguindanao with 122,561 votes against Ismael “Dustin” Mastura, who had 122,324, based on figures from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV). Reports from Carla Gomez, Joey Gabieta, Jhunnex Napallacan, Felipe Celino, Elvie Roa, David Sinay, Nestor Burgos Jr. and Rachel Arnaiz, Inquirer Visayas; Delfin T. Mallari Jr., Juan Escandor Jr., Mar S. Arguelles and Jonas Cabiles Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon; and Frinston Lim, Orlando Dinoy, Richel Umel, Carlo Agamon, Tito Fiel, Ryan Rosauro, Julie Alipala, Cai Panlilio, JB Deveza, Grace Cantal-Albasin, Franklin Caliguid, Rosa May de Guzman, Edwin Fernandez and Charlie Señase, Inquirer Mindanao


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100513-269660/Across-nation-Arroyo-son-wins-in-Bicol-other-Palace-men-fall

Villar’s next campaign: leadership of Senate

by Fel V. Maragay





Original Story: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/may/12/news2.isx&d=2010/may/12


DESPITE the Liberal Party’s gains in this week’s elections, the Nacionalista Party is likely to have the upper hand in gaining control of the Senate when the 15th Congress opens its regular session in July.

After losing the presidential race, Nacionalista standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr. may try to reclaim the Senate presidency. The Liberals, on the other hand, are expected to field former Senate president Frank Drilon.

The numbers are likely to favor Villar, who still has three years in his term as senator, just like his running mate Senator Loren Legarda, who lost the vice presidential race.

Three other candidates who ran under the Nacionalista banner—Senators Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Pia Cayetano and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—look likely to win a place in the new Senate.

Alan Peter Cayetano, a sitting senator, is also a Nacionalista Party member.

In a Senate leadership fight, the Nacionalistas may rely on the support of Senator Joker Arroyo, a known ally and defender of Villar and Senator Edgardo Angara, president of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, who backed Legarda in the vice presidential race.

On the other side of the fence, the Liberals have three or possibly four incoming senators: Drilon, former Senators Ralph Recto and Sergio Osmeña III, and Teofisto Guingona III.

Among the four Liberal senators in the 14th Congress, only one, Francis Pangilinan, will be left when the next Congress convenes.

At least three independent senators may be counted as Liberal allies—Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson and Antonio Trillanes, who all openly supported Aquino in the presidential contest.

But Lacson and Trillanes might not be able to vote in the election of the incoming Senate president. Lacson has gone into hiding abroad to evade arrest for his alleged involvement in the Dacer-Corbito murder case. Trillanes remains in jail for his involvement in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

Between Villar and Drilon, Villar is in a better position to forge a tactical alliance with Lakas-Kampi-CMD Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Lito Lapid. He may also court the support of Vicente Sotto III of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, who is identified with the Arroyo administration.

With the new alignment of forces, political watchers say Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will have little or no chance of retaining his position.

Enrile may only rely on his colleague in the Puwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, and independent Senator Gregorio Honasan for support.

Enrile is unlikely to support Villar, whom he attacked as a corrupt politician during the last campaign, and is more likely to lean towards Drilon, a former law partner.

In the House of Representatives, the Lakas-Kampi-CMD expects to retain its dominance. The administration party fielded 169 candidates for congressmen, of whom about l06 have already been proclaimed or are about to be proclaimed winners, says party executive director Ray Roquero.

President Gloria Arroyo, who is running for Congress in the Second District of Pampanga, is far ahead of her opponents there, and wants to be speaker. The administration party’s control over the House is crucial to that bid.

Among the Lakas congressional bets who have either been proclaimed or are about to be proclaimed are:

Mitz Cahayon, Caloocan City; Magtanggol Guiniguindo, Valenzuela City; Ma. Theresa Bonoan-David, Manila; Roman Romulo, Pasig City; Bernardo Vergara, Baguio City; Victor Ortega, La Union; Rachel Arenas, Pangasinan; Rodolfo Albano Jr., Isabela; Janet Garin, Iloilo; Sergio Apostol, Leyte; Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte; Pedro Romualdo, Camiguin; Imelda Dimaporo; Lanao del Norte; Thelma Almario, Davao Oriental; Francisco Matugas, Surigao del Norte; Philip Pichay,

Surigao del Sur; Simeon Datumanong, Maguindanao; Tupay Loong, Sulu; Rodolfo Antonino, Nueva Ecija; Carina Umali, Nueva Ecija; Pedro Pancho, Bulacan; Albert Garcia, Bataan; Lani Revilla, Cavite; Elpidio Barzaga, Cavite, Edcel Lagman, Albay; and Rolando Andaya and Dato Arroyo, Camarines Sur.

A question mark is Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte, who seems open to becoming speaker again after winning election to the Fourth District of Quezon City.

He was noncommittal about going head to head against Mrs. Arroyo, with whom he was allied until the last election, when he bolted to the Liberals.

In a text message to Manila Standard, Belmonte said, “I will cross the bridge when I get there.’’ With Roy Pelovello


Original Story: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideNews.htm?f=2010/may/12/news2.isx&d=2010/may/12

Comelec pushing Congress to rely on automated count, not manual CoCs

By Marie A. Surbano
05/13/2010




Original Story: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100513hed2.html


A president-elect proclaimed by Congress on the basis of electronically transmitted data appears to be the wish of the Commission on Elections, as the Comelec yesterday urged Congress to start counting the votes for president and vice president, despite the Senate not having received the manually prepared Certificates of Canvass (CoCs).

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez urged Congress to do the count by making use of the electronically transmitted CoCs as its basis in coming up with the results and for Congress to quickly proclaim a president-elect.

“Automation works. Automation is effective. All that is left is to see how many people can take advantage of it and its benefits, and, hopefully, Congress will also do that (rely on the automated count),” he said.

He stressed that Congress can start counting the votes for the two highest positions as almost all election returns are already transmitted and that it will not take long before the provincial board of canvassers (PBoCs) can complete the canvassing.

Senate sources, however told the Tribune yesterday that it is unlikely that the electronically transmitted data will be the basis of any presidential and vice presidential proclamation, as members of Congress prefer to wait for all the manually prepared CoCs before convening as a canvassing board, and use the manual CoCs as their basis for the proclamation of the president and vice president elect to ensure that the count is accurate and jibes with the electronically transmitted count.

“They (Congress) feel that this is the best way to check on the accuracy of the automated count. If they just go with the electronic count, then there won’t be any counter check on the electronically-transmitted count. It would be exactly the same (as the count Comelec has been doing the past days,” the sources said.

A senator who asked not to be named also told the Tribune that “perhaps the Comelec and others want to apply this pressure on the Congress, because they (Comelec) are afraid that the count will be different, if the manual CoC will be the basis of the congressional count, and not the electoronic count.”

The senator added that should the congressional count not match that of the Comelec’s electronically transmitted data, then this could reflect on the high inaccuracy of an automated count.”

On the part of Senate President Juan Ponce Ernile, he said the date of the national canvassing can be pushed ahead. “That can be discussed,” he said, adding that “Congress is the one that canvasses the votes cast for each candidate for president and vice president. It is the function of Congress to proclaim through proper resolution whoever is the winner for president as well as for vice president. No one else can do that,” Enrile said.

“Nobody will become president unless there is a proclamation of Congress. So any speculation, any tabulation or any summation of results of election will be meaningless. It is Congress, under the Constitution, that is authorized to do the formal canvassing and proclamation of winner for president and vice president,” he added.

Already, Speaker Prospero Nograles has instructed House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap to lead the House special task force on canvassing in a series of consultative meetings with its Senate counterpart led by Senate Secretary Emma Lirio Reyes.

“We have agreed to propose to the joint session of Congress options on the rules of canvass that may be adopted to ensure efficient, transparent and credible canvass of votes,” Yap said in a press statement.

The canvassing is expected to be held at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City.

But Jimenez said that it is not yet clear when Congress will convene to canvass the votes for president and vice president.

According to, Section 16 of the Omnibus Election Code states that Congress should convene not later than 30 days after Election Day to open all the CoCs and count the votes for the positions of president and vice president.

“I see nothing that prevents them from doing it earlier so they should be able to do that if they are minded to,” he added.

Jimenez, however admitted that the Comelec cannot dictate on Congress when or how to count the votes.

“They formulate their own rules of canvass. Right now, we don’t know whether they will use our automated system or they will opt to use the CoCs that will be brought to them... if they want to do it slower, if they want to use different methods,, we are perfectly fine with that,” added Jimenez.

The Comelec en banc is sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBoC) that will canvass votes for senatorial and party-list votes.


Original Story: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20100513hed2.html

Arroyo proclaimed in Pampanga

BY REGINA BENGCO




Original Story: http://www.malaya.com.ph/05132010/news8.html


CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga. — President Arroyo was proclaimed congresswoman of the second legislative district of Pampanga Wednesday night.

She will start her term as a lawmaker when she bows out as president on June 30.

Arroyo’s proclamation by Pampanga Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Temie Lambino was greeted with cheers by more than 600 provincemates at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.

A large crowd gathered outside the building where the provincial canvassing of votes was held.

Arroyo got 77 percent or 169,109 of the 219,592 votes cast in the 22 towns and cities in Pampanga.

Her closest rival, Adonis Simpao of the Liberal Party, received only 20,922 votes.

Arroyo was accompanied by her "kumadre" Lilia Pineda, who defeated incumbent Gov. Ed Panlilio.

Pineda received 488,521 votes as against 242,367 votes of Panlilio, the candidate of the Liberal Party.

Arroyo replaced her elder son, Juan Miguel, in the second district. The younger Arroyo is gunning for a seat in the House of Representatives as a nominee of the party-list Ang Galing ng Pinoy.

Arroyo served as senator in the 9th and 10th Congress before she won as vice president in May 1998. She was then the running mate of Lakas-CMD candidate Jose de Venecia.

Aside from Arroyo, the winning congressmen were Carmelo Lazatin (first district); Aurelio Gonzales (third district); and Anna York Bondoc (fourth district).

Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao won his reelection bid.

Despite the administration party’s domination in Pampanga, the LP’s standard bearers took the province.

Sen. Benigno Aquino III got 327,666 votes as against 290,462 votes for Lakas-Kampi presidential bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr.


Original Story: http://www.malaya.com.ph/05132010/news8.html