Migz leading by 17,000 votes
Team Unity (TU) senatorial bet Miguel Zubiri is now leading rival Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III of the Genuine Opposition (GO) by more than 17,000 votes as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resumed the canvassing of votes for the senatorial race yesterday.
Based on an unofficial tally, Zubiri now enjoys a total of 11,010,050 votes against Pimentel’s 10,983,358, representing a difference of 17,692 votes.
His lead was bolstered when the Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, performed the final canvassing of votes from Pagalungan, Maguindanao and Bogo,
Zubiri received 1,216 votes in Pagalungan against Pimentel’s 740 votes while he garnered 12,656 votes in Bogo against Pimentel’s 4,434 votes. In Bais, Zubiri received 13,381 votes while Pimentel got only 5,473 votes.
At present, however, the Comelec still has to decide on a pending petition for declaration of failure of election in Bais. When it decides to favor the petition, a special election will then be held in the area.
On July 23, the Comelec will hold a special election in Pantar, Lanao del Norte.
The poll body was unable to retrieve the election documents from the town after election officer Alauya Tago disappeared with the documents.
Atty. George Garcia, lawyer of Zubiri, asked the Comelec to proclaim his client because it was already impossible for Pimentel to overtake his client even if special elections are held in Bais and Pantar.
Garcia noted that even if Zubiri gets zero votes from these two towns, he would still end up with more votes than Pimentel.
But Atty. Leila de Lima, lawyer of Pimentel, asked the Comelec not to grant Garcia’s request as they have a pending petition with the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order against the proclamation of the 12th senator.
De Lima maintained that out of “judicial courtesy” the Comelec should wait for the decision of the high tribunal, which they expect to deliberate on their petition today.
In a press briefing late last night, Abalos claimed the poll body has not set a date for such proclamation. Abalos added that the Comelec was to meet and decide last night when it could finally proclaim the 12th senator. – Sheila Crisostomo
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