By ELLEN TORDESILLAS and MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
THE Commission on Elections on Tuesday decided to stop releasing updates of last Monday’s elections on the request of lawyers of some presidential and vice presidential bets.
Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said the en banc was supposed to have issued another update after Tuesday morning’s press briefing, but counsels of some candidates called them up and asked them not to.
In its 6:15 a.m. update, 78 percent of at least 38 million votes have been tallied.
“Malapit na kami dun sa 100 (percent) pero tumawag yung lawyers na sasapawan daw yung Congress (We’re nearly the 100-percent, but the lawyers called to say we’ll preempt Congress),” Tagle said. Congress will convene itself into the National Board of Canvassers to canvass the votes and proclaim the winners in the presidential and vice presidential races.
According to Tagle, the commissioners met again and Comelec Chair Jose Melo finally decided to stop the updates.
Canvassing of senatorial and party-list votes was supposed to start at 10 a.m. but was delayed by two hours after the en banc met for an undisclosed reason.
“Ayun, medyo nagkagulo-gulo na (That led to a lot of discussion),” Tagle said.
Tagle didn’t name any of the lawyers who called the Comelec but said the counsels were not those of candidates who had conceded. He added it might have been one of the lawyers of presidential candidate Joseph Estrada who is in second place.
But Melo denied any pressure from outside parties.
He said the Comelec’s 6 a.m. update would be its last and the poll body will not release additional data because it would be short of a proclamation.
“Dahil ano ba naman ang sasabihin ng tao, Dineclare na namin (What will the people say, We already declared a winner)?” he said. “Binigyan lang namin ang tao ng preview (We just gave people a preview).”
But Cesar Flores, Smartmatic president, said the Comelec already has 87 percent of the election results that is already “countable.”
“We expect between 92 (and) 95 percent by midnight,” he added.
When asked if the Comelec will issue an update anytime soon for the presidential and vice presidential elections, Melo said, “We will see.”
Aquino leads in polls
In the 6:15 a.m. update, Sen. Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III still leads in the presidential race with 12,233,002 votes or 40.19 percent. Former President Joseph Estrada was a distant second with 7,749,597 votes (25.46 percent).
Sen. Manuel Villar was trailing behind in third place with 329,215 votes (14.22 percent). Administration bet Gilberto Teodoro was fourth with 3,243,688 votes (10.65 percent); followed by Eddie Villanueva with 916,543 votes (3.01 percent) and Sen. Richard Gordon with 431,954 votes (1.41 percent). Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Nicanor Perlas, JC De los Reyes had less than 1 percent of the total votes.
Villar, Gordon, De los Reyes, and Teodoro have conceded to Aquino.
Earlier in the day, Aquino issued a statement declaring victory: “ Based on the partial election results it is clear that I have a significant lead over the next contender in the presidential race…It has been a humbling experience with all of you as we begin to accept the responsibility of leading our nation.”
Binay, Roxas in tight race
In the vice presidential race, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay got 12, 25,429 votes (39.59 percent), followed closely by Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas with 11,213,563 votes (36.84 percent).
Sen. Loren Legarda was third with 3,259,963 votes (10.71 percent); followed by Bayani Fernando with 847,100 votes (2.78 percent) and Edu Manzano with 593,653 votes (1.95 percent). Perfecto Yasay, Jay Sonza and Dominador Chipeco Jr. got less than 1 percent of the votes.
Magic 12
But before the week ends, the Comelec will have proclaimed winners in the senatorial and party-list elections.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said proclamation of the senatorial and party-list winners is expected by Friday. “We expect all results tonight,” he said.
As to the presidential and the vice presidential race, Sarmiento said it is Congress, which will convene as the National Board of Canvassers on May 31 and proclaim the winners. Comelec will just turn over to Congress all the data.
In the Magic 12 of the senatorial race are Ramon Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid; Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Vicente Sotto III, Sergio Osmena III, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and Teofisto Guingona III.
The Comelec has not released results in the party-list elections.