Noynoy, Mar lead in overseas absentee voting results

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party (LP) presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III continues to lead in the results of the overseas absentee voting (OAV) received by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

DFA-OAVS chair and Foreign Undersecretary Rafael Seguis said that as of yesterday, Aquino received 15,959 votes from more than 20 embassies and consulates general worldwide, followed by Nacionalista Party’s (NP) Sen. Manuel Villar with 3,545 and Lakas-Kampi bet Gilberto Teodoro with 2,875.

Sen. Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan received 2,013 votes, followed by former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) with 1,832.

For vice president, LP vice presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Roxas II got 14,974 votes followed by NP’s Loren Legarda with 4,407 and PDP-Laban’s Jejomar Binay, 3,959.

In the United Kingdom, Aquino got the most number of votes among Filipino overseas absentee voters, according to the canvass conducted by the Philippine embassy in London.

In the summary of results furnished by the Special Board of Canvassers, Aquino obtained 1,513 votes, while Villar placed second with 315 and Teodoro third with 256.

Gordon ranked fourth with 164, Bangon Pilipinas bet Eduardo Villanueva was fifth with 115, and Estrada sixth with 109.

Sen. Jamby Madrigal landed seventh with 10 while Ang Kapatiran’s JC de los Reyes is in eighth place with eight votes.

Independent Nicanor Perlas got three votes, while disqualified Kilusang Bagong Lipunan bet Vetellano Acosta came in last after getting two of the total 2,725 absentee ballots cast.

In the vice presidential race, Roxas got the highest number of votes with 1,591, while Binay landed second with 279.

Legarda landed third with 252. Next is former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando with 211 followed by Perfecto Yasay, Lakas-Kampi bet Edu Manzano, broadcaster Jay Sonza and Dominador Chipeco.

The top 15 senatorial candidates were Franklin Drilon with 1,698; Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago with 1,592; former senator Ralph Recto with 1,447; Teofisto Guingona III with 1,278; Sen. Pia Cayetano with 1,166; Serge Osmeña with 1,160; Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla with 1,001; Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel with 988; Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile with 976; Sonia Roco with 938; Ruffy Biazon with 925; Bongbong Marcos with 891; former senator Vicente Sotto with 827; Sen. Jinggoy Estrada with 815 and former senator Kit Tatad with 771.

The turnout of votes could be considered low as against the 8,500 registered voters all over the UK, which is the largest compared to other countries in Europe. – With James Mananghaya