Admin bets still dominate 'Magic 12' after hours-long delay in poll updates

Partial and unofficial tally of votes for the senatorial race were stalled for hours due to a problem in ending the data from the transparency server to media computers linked to it, according to the Commission on Elections.
The STAR/Miguel de Guzman

MANILA, Philippines — After seven hours, the Commission on Elections transparency server updated its transparency server to reflect the vote counts for the 2019 national elections.

The poll body earlier admitted that a technical issue slowed down the transmission of the partial unofficial count to media partners. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez stressed, though, that the server itself was receiving data.

The initial results, which were in the tens of thousands, were released at 6:15 p.m. The Comelec released its second update at 1:19 a.m. showing votes in the millions.

Sen. Cynthia Villar maintained her lead in the senatorial race followed by Sen. Grace Poe, former presidential aide Bong Go and Rep. Pia Cayetano (Taguig City).

Completing the "Magic 12" so far are former Philippine National Police chief Bato dela Rosa, Sen. Sonny Angara, former Sen. Lito Lapid, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos., former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, Sen. Nancy Binay, Sen. Koko Pimentel and former Sen. Bong Revilla.

A majority of in the top 12 in the latest results are allied with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's Hugpong ng Pagbabago coalition except for Poe, who ran as an independent, and Binay, who ran under the United Nationalist Alliance.

In the latest update, Pimentel rose to the 11th spot from the 13th place. Sen. JV Ejercito, meanwhile, dropped to the 13th place after placing 12th in the 6:15 p.m. partial unofficial results.

Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu (Maguindanao) of the administration PDP-Laban party and singer Freddie Aguilar, both of whom President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed, did not make it to the top 12.

Jimenez earlier explained that there was an issue with sending the data from the transparency server to media computers linked to it, causing the delay in the released of the results.

He clarified that there was no problem with the transparency server itself. — Patricia Lourdes Viray

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