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Zubiri to be proclaimed 12th senator Wednesday


The Commission on Elections will proclaim Team Unity's Juan Miguel Zubiri as the 12th winning senator on Wednesday, after the Supreme Court failed to issue a temporary restraining order blocking the poll body from declaring the last senatorial winner, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos told GMANews.TV on Tuesday. "Sobra-sobra na ang lamang ni Zubiri (Zubiri's lead over Pimentel is already very big), even if you have to consider votes from Pantar (in Lanao del Norte) and Tandubas (in Tawi-Tawi)," Abalos said. "Somehow, it's a big relief na tapos na ito (that this is already finished). We look forward to the reconciliation of all the parties," he added. Zubiri's proclamation originally scheduled at 10 a.m., was moved to 2 p.m. at the Comelec's main office in Intramuros, Manila, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez told reporters on Tuesday. Special elections in Pantar, which has 9,286 voters, are still to be held on July 23. Meanwhile, the Comelec's National Board of Canvassers has not yet canvassed votes from Tandubas, which has 270 registered voters. There were also missing election returns from five precincts in Bogo, Cebu, that contain 893 votes that were not included in the count. Zubiri's lead over Pimentel is 18,372 votes, based on the Comelec tally provided by Jimenez to reporters on Tuesday. The expected total votes to be obtained by Zubiri is 11,001,730, which includes 10,974,477 votes he received based on Comelec Report 29; 13,381, Bais; 12,656, Bogo, Cebu; 1,216, Pagalungan, Maguindanao. While Pimentel is expected to get 10,983,358 total votes, which includes 10,972,711 based on Report 29; 5,473, Bais; 4,434, Bogo, Cebu; 740, Pagalungan, Maguindanao. Jimenez said that after Zubiri's proclamation, Pimentel will be left with no other recourse but elevate his case to the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Meanwhile, Zubiri's supporters will be having a thanksgiving mass at Manila Cathedral around 3:30 Tuesday afternoon. - GMANews.TV

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