Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said last week that Comelec has ruled that proclamations for this year’s senatorial candidates will be made after counting and canvassing of votes are completed.
Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said earlier in a press briefing that it may be safe to say that proclamation of 12 winning senatorial candidates can be made within seven days.
“I think one week is a good target but we tried to outperform,” he said at the 2016 Elections National Headquarters at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.
In the 2013 senatorial elections, the Comelec made partial proclamation covering the first six winning candidates even before the final counting and canvassing of votes were completed.
As of 5 a.m. May 11, 2016, Pacquiao has garnered 15,489,667 votes to land at No.7, dislodging fellow candidate Risa Hontiveros, who is now ranked at No. 8. The ongoing count has reached 95 percent of the total number of precincts.
Pacquiao, who announced his retirement from boxing after his trilogy fight against Timothy Bradley last April 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, has called on the nation to unite and support the new administration.
“I appeal to the entire nation. It’s time to set politics aside,” said Pacquiao in a statement earlier. “I hope our new president becomes a symbol of unity among Filipinos. Let us support the new administration as we seek change toward a peaceful and progressive nation),” Pacquiao added.
While Pacquiao has campaigned under the opposition party UNA, his supporters and local party mates have thrown their support to presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, who is now leading in the ongoing official count and short of being proclaimed the next president of the Philippines.
