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May 14, 2010 5:47 PM (MNL – Manila, Philippines Time)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES (NOYNOY AQUINO NEWS BUREAU) – Both chambers of the Philippine Congress are trying to advance the canvassing of votes for President and Vice President in the light of the full automation and the speedy counting of votes in the May 10 elections.

Under the Philippine Constitution, it’s only Congress, in a public joint session,that is authorized to tally the votes and proclaim the winners in the election for President and Vice President.

This is the reason the Philippine Commission on Elections (Comelec), which administers elections, stopped on Tuesday the updating of tallies for the President and Vice President after it was reminded by lawyers of some candidates that it may be preempting the function of Congress to canvass the votes and to proclaim the winners.

Comelec’s mandate is limited to the proclamation of poll winners in senatorial, congressional and local elective official races.

As it stands now, the canvassing of votes for President and Vice President can only be made on May 31 to June 4 when both houses of Congress are scheduled to resume session for the sine die adjournment of the 14th Congress.

There is now a proposal to call a special session of Congress on May 24, so the canvassing of votes for the President and Vice President can be made earlier and the winners proclaimed.

Such a call for early canvass and proclamation came in the wake of speedy counting of votes and transmission of results due to poll automation, adopted for the first time in the Philippines. .

Some lawmakers also feel that an early canvassing and proclamation would ease tension created by the election. They said it will also ensure orderly and swift transition to a new national leadership.

The relevant constitutional provision that governs canvassing for President and Vice President is Section 4, Article VII. It states that: “The returns of every election for President and Vice President, duly certified by the board of canvassers (BoCs) of each province or city, shall be transmitted to the Congress, directed to the President of the Senate.”

“Upon receipt of the certificates of canvass, the President of the Senate shall, not later than 30 days after the day of the election, open all the certificates in the presence of the Senate and the House of Representatives in joint public session, and the Congress, upon determination of the authenticity and due execution thereof in the manner provided by law, canvass the votes.”

“The person having the highest number of votes shall be proclaimed elected, but in case two or more shall have an equal and highest number of votes, one of them shall forthwith be chosen by the vote of a majority of all the Members of both Houses of Congress, voting separately,” it states.

Contact Details
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Alma Tuason
Foreign Media Liaison Group
Noynoy Aquino Media Bureau
Phone: 1.888.736.0655 (US Phone)
Email: officialrelease@tuloypnoy.com