Comelec to comply with minimum health protocols on proclamation proceedings, says spox

The Commission on Elections on Friday said it would implement minimum health protocols for the proclamation proceedings of winning senators and party-list groups possibly this weekend.

Acting Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said the poll body would be limiting the number of individuals accompanying elected senators and party-list groups.

“For the proclamation proceedings, plans are underway. The priority for proclamation of course is compliance with minimum public health standards. We still have to wait for the resolution for this, just a bit of a guideline,” Laudiangco said at a press briefing.

“For senators who will be proclaimed, it would be the senator-elect himself or herself plus three companions. For party-list groups it will be limited to two, just two,” he added.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia earlier said the proclamation of the 12 winning senators and party-list groups would likely take place this weekend.

121 out of 173 COCs canvassed

The Comelec, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) for the senatorial and party-list races for Eleksyon 2022, already canvassed 121 out of 173 certificate of canvass (COC) which is around 70% as of Thursday, May 12.

“If you would look for the board of the monitoring system of the NBOC, 100% transmission completely received in CAR, NCR, Regions 1, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5 , 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 complete na po sila 100% transmission,” Laudiangco said.

The Comelec spokesperson said the total number of registered voters is 65,831,792. Out of these, the projected voter turn-out is estimated at 81% or more than 54.6 million.

He said of the 84,358 approved local absentee voting applications, the total local absentee voter turn-out is at 74,852 or 88.73%, while the canvass rate is at 96.3%.

Meanwhile, Laudiangco assured that they will still proceed with the elections in Shanghai, China despite the COVID-19 surge.

“Definitely, we will proceed with the Shanghai special elections, hindi po kami puwede magdisenfranchise ng voters, karapatan po nila yan. Kahit na meron na tayong proclamation, kung hindi makakaapekto, kasi karapatan nila yan hindi po natin pwedeng alisin yan,” he said.

(Definitely, we will proceed with the Shanghai special elections, we can't disenfranchise voters, they have that right. Even if we already have a proclamation, if it does not affect it, it is their right, we cannot remove it.)

“When that will be? First we have to comply with Section 6 and 7 of Omnibus Election Code kailan ba ni-lift yung reason for the postponement suspension ng election, ang problem natin ang reason for the postponement of election in shanghai is current lockdown due to the surge of COVID so hinihintay po natin ilift ng China ang lockdown sa Shanghai,” he added.

(When will that be? First we have to comply with Section 6 and 7 of Omnibus Election Code when was the reason for the postponement of election suspension lifted, our problem is the reason for the postponement of election in Shanghai, it is current lockdown due to the surge of COVID-19, so let us wait to lift China's lockdown on Shanghai.)

The Comelec earlier suspended the absentee voting in Shanghai.

Last April, at least 10 Filipinos were under quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 following the surge of cases in Shanghai. — RSJ, GMA News