By MIKHA FLORES and MELISSA LUZ LOPEZ
THE Commission on Elections proclaimed three more senators-elect on Friday amid snowballing protests against the premature announcement of winners based only on a fraction of the results, with one watchdog describing it as “repugnant to the law.”
The proclamation of Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel and Antonio Trillanes Jr. — all Team PNoy candidates — brings to nine the number of senators proclaimed by the poll body, which has defended its move against widespread criticisms.
On Thursday, the first six senators were proclaimed based on 72 certificates of canvass out of 304. The Comelec issued Resolution 9706 which used “grouped canvass reports” as basis to determine the number of votes for each senator.
The Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) described the Comelec resolution proclaiming the first set of candidates as “constitutionally infirm.”
