Comelec convenes as National Board of Canvassers

The National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) on Monday afternoon officially convened in preparation for the counting of the votes cast in the country's first nationwide automated polls. The NBOC officially convened past 3:30 p.m. at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. The NBOC is composed of the poll body commission, which is made up of Comelec chairman Jose Melo and the six poll body commissioners. They will consolidate the votes and declare the winners both for the senatorial and the party-list races. The NBOC is expected to receive the certificates of canvass (COC) from the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC). The PBOC receive the COCs from either the the municipal or city board of canvassers. The municipal or city board of canvassers are expected to electronically receive the election returns from precincts in their respective areas once voting closes on Monday evening. On the other hand, Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, will serve as the canvassing board for the position of president and vice president. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMANews.TV