UK & Europe Edition
May 2013 / Fortnightly
Volume 4 - Number 10
page 26
Connecting Global News & Views For The Community
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Comelec proclaims six winning senatorial bets; Nancy Binay a no-show
The six winning senatorial bets
AFTER only three days, the Commission on Elections en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, proclaimed six winning senatorial candidates in the May 13 midterm elections. The rest of the winners are expected to be announced Friday. The six were former MTRCB chairperson Grace Poe; reelectionist senators Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, and Alan Peter Cayetano; Nancy Binay; and Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara. Binay was not present during the proclamation and was represented by her lawyer, Donna Camitan, to the proclamation. All except her ran under the Liberal Party-led administration coalition. Binay, daughter of Vice President Jejomar Binay, ran under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which earlier asked the Comelec to defer the proclamation. UNA’s motion was junked by the poll
bodyearlier in the day. Comelec Commissioner Lucenito Tagle said Binay’s absence was connected to UNA’s petition. Accompanied by loved ones. Legarda was accompanied by her son Leandro, father Tony and her yaya, Nanay Fely. She wore a barong top with a tinguian necklace from Abra. Escudero, meanwhile, arrived with his girlfriend, actress Heart Evangelista. Poe, who wore a white dress, was accompanied by her mother Susan Roces, her husband and children. Poe’s arrival at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), where the canvassing was held, was greeted by cheers. Sonny Angara was with his family and father Sen. Edgardo Angara. Cayetano was also accompanied by his wife, reelected Taguig mayor Lani Cayetano. Also present in the proclamation are Mother
Lily Monteverde, former poll commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal, and Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting chairman Henrietta de Villa. Alphabetical order. The Comelec commissioners took turns in giving to the six their respective certificates of proclamation. Poll chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. clarified that “we don’t have votes as yet” so the certificates were distributed in alphabetical order. Camitan initially wanted to receive the certificate of proclamation for Binay, but Brillantes thumbed down her request, saying she needs to wait for the formal proclamation to end before getting the document. Camitan did not state the reason why Binay was absent in the event The winning candidates will serve for six years starting June 30, 2013. ■ Amita Legaspi / with Marc
Jayson Cayabyab/KBK, GMA News / May 16, 2013 / Updated 8:13 pm