Congress summons 12 canvassing board chairmen

Congress acting as the national board of canvassers (NBOC) on Tuesday ordered the head canvassers of 12 areas to appear before the chamber and explain why their certificates of canvass (COCs) were not yet in the consolidation and canvassing system (CCS). During the resumption of the canvassing of votes for president and vice-president, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said there were 13 provinces and cities whose COCs were not received by the CCS. Included in these was Lanao del Sur, which has yet to hold its special elections. The others were: 1. Aurora 2. Biliran 3. Bukidnon 4. Cagayan de Oro City 5. Camarines Norte 6. Davao Oriental 7. Ilocos Sur 8. Kalinga 9. Pampanga 10. Romblon 11. San Juan City 12. Surigao del Sur "Was there a massive brownout on the night of the counting that they were not able to transmit to us? Was there a problem with the phone lines and servers?" Zubiri asked. Commission on Elections (Comelec) executive director Jose Tolentino said the provincial board of canvassers in the affected areas reported that they were able to transmit the COCs electronically but that they were not received by the CCS. The COCs in these areas, however, were received by the Comelec, according to Tolentino, adding that they were able to use these COCs from these areas to proclaim the winning senators and party-list groups. Despite Tolentino's explanation, the NBOC decided to summon the heads of the board of canvassers in the 12 areas that have no electronically-transmitted COCs in the CCS. So far, 142 out of the 278 COCs have already been canvassed. Congress leaders vowed to finish the canvassing and proclaim the winners by June 15. Tuesday's canvassing was delayed after lawmakers sought the explanation of Comelec officials regarding the discrepancies found on COCs. On Monday night, the tallying of votes from Siquijor and Baguio City were deferred after the counsels of the candidates noted that the number of valid votes allegedly exceeded the number of voters who actually voted. The NBOC also want the Comelec to explain why there was no electronically transmitted result from Ilocos Sur. Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal asked the body to allow them to examine the COCs first before they give their explanation on the matter. The canvassing body suspended the session to allow the poll officials to check the documents. Aside from Larrazabal, also present were Comelec chairman Jose Melo, Commissioners Nicodemo Ferrer and Elias Yusoph. - KBK, GMANews.TV