Poll fraud probe won’t delay proclamation of president, VP, officials say

The ongoing investigation on alleged irregularities during the May 10 nationwide automated polls will not delay the proclamation of the country’s next president and vice-president, Congress leaders assured on Wednesday. “It [the investigation] will not affect the canvassing. It will not delay the canvassing," Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile said in an interview aired over Bombo Radyo. The House Committee on Electoral Reforms and Suffrage on Wednesday held a hearing on alleged fraud that took place during the May polls, which included pre-shading of ballots and transmission of results not coming from the official automated counting machines. The investigation came a week before Congress convenes as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) to officially determine who will become the country’s next top leaders. House Speaker Prospero Nograles also assured that the probe would not delay the canvassing and that the country will officially have its new president and vice-president by June 30. "My job is to proclaim and proclaim accurately based on accurate count genuine and duly executed canvass papers. That's my job. I'm not going to allow delays but will surely entertain debates," he said in a text message to reporters. “Our deadline is to ensure that the president and the vice president (are) proclaimed on or before noon of June 30," he added. The 1987 Constitution mandates that the six-year terms of the Philippine president and vice-president start at noon of June 30 of the election year. Congress is set to hold a joint session on Monday to approve the canvassing rules to be used the following day, when canvassing is scheduled to begin. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV