By ELLEN TORDESILLAS AND MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
SEN. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay are frontrunners in the presidential and vice presidential races based on the initial official election results transmitted to the Commission on Elections.
As of 9:45 p.m. Monday, less than three hours after the 12-hour voting ended, 38.25 percent of the total votes have been sent to the Comelec.
Cesar Flores, president of Smartmatic that supplied the automated system used for the first time in Philippine elections, said the transmission of results exceeded their expectation.
“When you wake up, you will have a very clear trend on who will be the next president, vice president and senators,” he said.
Comelec Chair Jose Melo said the poll body expects to receive 80 percent of the election results by Tuesday. He reported a 75 percent voter turnout.
According to Comelec’s tally, Aquino leads with 5,853,537 votes or 40.44 percent.
Former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada got 3,728,723 votes (25.75 percent ); Sen. Manuel Villar, 2,024,119 (13.98 percent); Gilberto Teodoro, 1,541,199 votes (10.64 percent);
Eddie Villanueva, 453, 016 votes (3.12 percent); Richard Gordon, 226,552 votes (1.56 percent); Vetaliano Acosta, 61,704 votes (0.42 percent); Nicanor Perlas, 19,196 votes (0.13 percent); Ma. Ana Consuelo Madrigal, 17,556 votes (0.12 percent); and JC De los Reyes, 15,842 votes (0.10 percent).
In the vice presidential race, Binay got 5,881,127 votes (40.63 percent); Sen. Manuel Roxas, 5,310,355 votes (36.68 percent); Loren Legarda, 1,542,687 votes (10.65 percent); Bayani Fernando, 422,607 votes (2.91 percent);
Edu Manzano, 291,025 votes (1.72 percent); Perfecto Yasay, 144,471 votes (0.99 percent); Jay Sonza, 24,616 votes (0.17 percent); and Dominador Chipeco, 17,971 votes (0.012 percent).
The Magic 12 in the senatorial race includes Ramon Revilla Jr. with 7,662,751 votes (52.94 percent); Jinggoy Estrada, 7,626,925 votes (52.69 percent); Miriam Defensor-Santiago, 7,719,693 votes (48.49 percent);
Franklin Drilon, 6,410,400 votes (44.88 percent); Juan Ponce Enrile, 6,385,226 votes (44.11 percent); Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., 5,582,048 votes (38.56 percent); Pia Cayetano with 5,574,951 votes (38.51 percent);
Ralph Recto, 4,995,783 votes (34.51 percent); Tito Sotto, 4,914,286 votes (33.25 percent); Serge Osmena III, 4,569,595 votes (31.57 percent); Lito Lapid, 4,445,674 votes (30.02 percent); and Teofisto Guingona III, 4,143,702 votes (28.62 percent).
Within striking distance are Risa Hontiveros, Jose De Venecia III and Gilbert Remulla.
Melo lauded the conduct of elections on Monday despite being marred by poll violence and glitches in the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines.
“This seems to be a victory of the Filipino people with God’s help,” he said.