Friday, June 08, 2007

Comelec Sets New Polls In Maguindanao, Proclaims 10 Candidates


The Commission on Election (Comelec) proclaimed 10 candidates who won in the May 14, 2007 senatorial elections. The 11th and 12th places are still being fought by Antonio Trillanes III (11th), Kuko Pimentel (12th) and Miguel Zubiri in the latest Comelec tally.
Those proclaimed winners in the evening of Wednesday, June 6 are: 1. Loren Legarda, 2. Francis Escudero, 3. Panfilo Lacson, 4. Manuel Villar, 5. Francis Pangilinan, 6. Benigno Aquino III, 7. Edgardo Angara, 8. Alan Peter Cayetano, 9. Joker Arroyo, and 10. Gregorio Honasan. All the 10 senators attended the proclamation ceremony except Joker Arroyo.
The proclamation ceremony was held in the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. It was presided by Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos who read the proclamation certificate provided one copy each to the winning senatorial candidates.
The fate of the three candidates Antonio Trillanes III, Aquilino Pimentel and Miguel Zubiri are left hanging until the votes from Lanao, Basilan and Surigao del Norte are counted. The Comelec announced the failure of election in Maguindanao and at the same time announced the holding of special election in that province. Maguindanao has 337,108 registered voters which if combined with that of Lanao, Basilan, and Surigao del Norte will be 1.2 million.
It is predicted that the 11th place for senator will be known on Friday, June 8. For the 12th place, Kuko Pimentel is leading Miguel Zubiri by 127, 147 votes.
With that proclamation, there is now a sister – brother team in the House of the Senate: Pia and Alan Peter Cayetano.
If Kuko Pimentel became successful in his senate bid, then there will also be a father and son senators: Aquilino Pimentel and Kuko Pimentel. Will the Philippine Senate then become a Senate of Relatives? /MP

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