GMA back on top in canvass

Votes from an island bailiwick in the Visayas propelled President Arroyo back on top as the canvassing by the joint committee in Congress entered its fifth day yesterday.

The votes from the island-province of Siquijor lifted Mrs. Arroyo to the top spot, overtaking opposition front-runner Fernando Poe Jr. after 60 certificates of canvass (COCs) were tabulated by the joint congressional canvassing panel.

Mrs. Arroyo got 195,259 votes while Poe came in second with 188,172 votes.

The joint canvassing panel tabulated the COCs from Siquijor, Kuwait and Lebanon at 7:25 p.m.

Independent presidential candidate Sen. Panfilo Lacson landed third with 46,848 votes followed by evangelist Eddie Villanueva with 32,258 votes and former education secretary Raul Roco with 25,191.

In the vice presidential race, Sen. Loren Legarda continued her lead with 231,258 votes over Sen. Noli de Castro’s 220,935 votes. Herminio Aquino got 9,989 votes while Rodolfo Pajo got 613.

Poe took the lead over Mrs. Arroyo on Wednesday after his allies in the Koalisyon ng Nagkakaisang Pilipino (KNP) did not object to the resumption of canvassing.

KNP lawyers declared nothing irregular in the documents attached to the certificates of canvass from Aurora province, a known opposition bailiwick.

Votes from the province propelled Poe and running mate Legarda to the top slots. - Paolo Romero