Senate forms nine-man panel to canvass votes for president, VP

The Senate on Monday afternoon was finally able to complete its nine-man team that will be part of the National Board of Canvassers to canvass the votes for president and vice president. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will be leading the contingent, which is composed of Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., and Senators Rodolfo Biazon, Alan Peter Cayetano, Gregorio Honasan II, Edgardo Angara, Ramon Revilla Jr., and Joker Arroyo. They will be nominated once the chamber holds its session later in the day. Aside from the naming of the joint committee members, the senators will also discuss and adopt the rules it will implement during the canvassing of votes and proclamation of the country’s new president and vice-president. Their names were finalized in a caucus attended by Enrile, Zubiri, Pimentel, Cayetano, Honasan, Angara, Revilla, Senate ProTempore Jinggoy Estrada, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Lito Lapid, Benigno “Noynoy" Simeon Aquino III, Jamby Madrigal, and Francis Escudero. Presidential and vice presidential candidates Aquino, Manuel Villar Jr., Richard Gordon, Madrigal, Manuel Roxas II, and Loren Legarda were not allowed to be part of the canvassing committee. Estrada, re-elected Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, and recently, Escudero, inhibited themselves from the canvassing. "Propriety and delicadeza dictate that I inhibit myself from any participation in the canvassing process so as not to cause undue delay or cast doubts in the proclamation of the winning candidates," Escudero said in a letter sent to Enrile. Escudero had openly endorsed the candidacies and even campaigned for Aquino and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay. During Monday's session, Estrada formally manifested his inhibition from the canvassing proceedings. He said this is in order to remove any cloud of doubt that he exerted pressure to the canvassing board "I’m willing to sit as an alternate member but I will not participate in the actual proceedings," said Estrada, whose father, former President Joseph Estrada, is a presidential candidate. Alternate members will sit in the panel if the regular members are not available. Estrada said he would also be present in the proceedings in order to provide quorum.— Amita Legaspi/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV