By MARK MADRONA
FIVE days after the nation trooped to the polls, the Commission on Elections officially wrapped up its canvassing for the 2013 senatorial elections by proclaiming the last three winners in the race on Saturday.
The proclamation of San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, re-electionist Gregorio Honasan, and former Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar as senator-elect came shortly after the poll body received the certificate of canvass (COC) from Lanao del Norte, the last province to do so. All seven Comelec commissioners were present during the event.
Nancy Binay joined Saturday night’s proclamation together with re-elected Senator Aquilino Pimentel III. Binay refused to attend her proclamation last Thursday, citing her party’s stand that the proclamations being done are premature. Pimentel, who was originally proclaimed Friday night, expressed the same sentiment.
The proclamation of the 12 puts to rest questions over the legality of the partial announcement of winners on Thursday and Friday based on incomplete election returns.
