Congress Canvasses Votes; Prexy, VP Proclamation Nears

Congress Convenes Canvassing of Votes; Prexy, VP Proclamation Nears

The House of Representatives and the Senate convened as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) yesterday, May 24, to canvass the actual votes for president and vice president following the May 9 elections.

The joint hybrid session took place at the House plenary hall in the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, led by Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

The Joint Congressional Committee comprises chairpersons Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Majority Martin Romualdez, and six senators and six representatives as regular members: senators Franklin Drilon, Nancy Binay, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, and Pia Cayetano and representatives Jesus Crispin Remulla, Abraham Tolentino, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Sharon Garin, Manuel Jose Dalipe, and Juliette Ferrer.

The committee also has one set of alternates from each chamber: senators Lito Lapid, Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel, and Ronald Dela Rosa and representatives Juan Pablo Bondoc, Johnny Pimentel, Alfredo Garbin Jr., and Stella Quimbo.

Canvassing rules prohibit candidates for president and vice president from joining the panel. But while presumptive president Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.’s sister and cousin are members of the committee, Sotto said in ANC’s Headstart today that he sees nothing wrong in their membership in the panel. Vice President Leni Robredo's camp also has no objection to Congress' vote canvassing.

The NBOC has, thus far, processed 105 out of 173 certificates of canvass (COCs) for president and vice president on Tuesday, according to an Inquirer report today.

Drilon has told ANC that they are eyeing to proclaim the next president and vice president by Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

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