Monsod: Congress may convene early to canvass votes for pres, VP

With the speedy release of election results due to automation, the Congress may convene as the National Board of Canvassers earlier than May 31 to canvass the votes cast for president and vice president, former Elections chief Christian Monsod said Wednesday. In an interview with reporters in Manila, Monsod said the Senate and the House of Representatives may not wait for May 31 to convene as the NBC if the certificates of canvass (COCs) are all in. "They can meet early. I think there is no problem with their meeting early but they have to have the documents provided by the municipal, city and provincial board of canvassers," Monsod said on the sidelines of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) press conference. He said the election returns (ERs), which serve as bases for partial and unofficial counts, cannot be used to proclaim the winning president and vice-president. Lawyer Roan Libarios, governor of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, agreed with Monsod. "The earlier they (Congress) convene, the better. Early proclamation means political stability and smooth transition," he said in a text message to GMANews.TV. Monsod was glad that the Comelec stopped updating the tallies for the presidential and vice-presidential races because it is only the Congress convening as the NBC can release official results for the two top elective posts. "The only official count [for the presidential and vice presidential races] is Congress," he said. Earlier than May 31? Just recently, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said he would discuss with Speaker Prospero Nograles the possibility of convening the NBC earlier than May 31. "Pwede naman natin pag-usapan na gagawin ‘yon nang mas maaga…Congress is the one that canvasses the votes cast for each candidate for president and vice president. It is the function of Congress to proclaim through proper resolution whoever is the winner for president as well as for vice president. No one else can do that," Enrile said. “Nobody will become president unless there is a proclamation of Congress so any speculation, any tabulation or any summation of results of election will be meaningless. It is Congress, under the Constitution, that is authorized to do the formal canvassing and proclamation of winner for president and vice president," he added. Already, Nograles has instructed House Secretary General Marilyn Barua-Yap to lead the House special task force on canvassing in a series of consultative meetings with its Senate counterpart led by Senate Secretary Emma Lirio Reyes. "We have agreed to propose to the joint session of Congress options on the rules of canvass that may be adopted to ensure efficient, transparent and credible canvass of votes," Yap said in a press statement. The canvassing is expected to be held at the Batasan Pambansa complex in Quezon City. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV