Noynoy can be proclaimed by Congress as early as Monday

With 203 out of 278 certificates of canvass (COCs) opened, Congress is all set to proclaim the country's next president and vice president possibly by Monday next week. This was according to Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri Tuesday night after Congress, convening as the national board of canvassers (NOBC), opened 63 more COCs. "It's safe to say that we'll be able to proclaim by Monday," Zubiri told reporters after the canvassing of COCs was suspended. He said proclaiming the winners by Monday is the "best scenario." Only 54 COCs, however, were canvassed Tuesday as the canvassing of some that were opened were deferred due to discrepancies and the failure of provincial board of canvassers to transmit the COCs either manually or electronically. Based on the NOBC's canvass of 189 COCs as of 8:30 p.m., Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III had 9,564,943 votes while former President Joseph Estrada had 5,927,990. Senator Manuel Villar Jr., meanwhile, ranked third with 3,333,558 votes while administration standard bearer Gilberto Teodoro Jr. had 2,480,185.

Based on partial NBOC canvassing as of 8:30 p.m., June 1, with 203 certificates of canvass (CoCs).

In the tightly contested vice presidential race, Estrada's running-mate, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay, maintained his lead with 9,019,291 votes. He was followed closely by Aquino's running-mate Senator Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, who got 8,749,968 votes. Villar's running-mate, Senator Loren Legarda, was a far third with 2,570,103 votes.

Based on partial NBOC canvassing as of 8:30 p.m., June 1, with 203 certificates of canvass (CoCs).

As expected, it was the tandem of Aquino and Roxas that won in Aquino's home province of Tarlac, receiving 387, 624 and 317,843 votes, respectively. The tandem also topped the counting in Camarines Sur and Agusan del Sur. Roxas dominated the counting in Negros Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Benguet, Surigao del Norte, Bohol, Aklan, Albay, Masbate and Zamboanga del Norte. Binay, meanwhile, was on top in Cavite, Zamboanga City, Compostela Valley, Quirino, Laguna, Catanduanes, Manila, Bulacan, Misamis Oriental, Isabela, Sarangani, Occidental Mindoro, Sorsogon, Cagayan, Paranaque and Nueva Vizcaya, among other areas. Teodoro and his running-mate Edu Manzano dominated the polls in Dinagat Island, Camiguin, and Compostela Valley. During Tuesday's canvassing, lawmakers also expressed alarm over the reported number of nullified votes which the lawyers pegged at 2.6 million for the vice presidential race alone. The counsels of some candidates also reiterated that there were discrepancies in the number of votes cast and the number of people who actually voted. Votes were nullified in cases of overvoting or in erroneous shading of ballots. "That figure could make or break a candidate," Zubiri said. "Maybe we should amend the automation law, baka ibahin ang sistema sa susunod (maybe the system will be changed next time)." With Aquino's five-million-vote lead over Estrada based on the partial and unofficial tally of more than 90 percent of election returns, Aquino is presumed to be the country's next president. The Comelec's partial and unofficial tally also showed a relatively slim margin between Binay and Roxas. - KBK/HS, GMANews.TV