The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday proclaimed the 12 winning senators — which consists of neophytes, reelectionists, and returnees — of the recently-concluded May 9 local and national elections.
Sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), the poll body proclaimed the senatoriables, who will have a fresh 6-year term as they assume office on June 30, 2022, at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
The ceremony was led by Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan alongside Commissioners George Garcia, Rey Bulay, Aimee Ferolino, Aimee Torrefranca-Neri, Marlon Casquejo, and Socorro Inting.
Actor Robin Padilla, who is a first-time lawmaker, emerged as the top choice of Filipinos as a senator with 26,612,434 votes based on the partial and official count by the NBOC.
He was followed by a returning senator Antique Representative Loren Legarda who got 24,264,969 votes, broadcaster Raffy Tulfo with 23,396,954, and reelectionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian with 20,602,655.
Also making his return to the Senate is Sorsogon Governor Francis "Chiz" Escudero at fifth place with 20,271,458 votes, followed by former Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar with 19,475,592, and former senator Taguig Representative Alan Cayetano with 19,295,314.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri ranked eighth with 18,734,336 votes followed by Senator Joel Villanueva with 18,486,034 votes, and former senator JV Ejercito with 15,841,858.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, the lone opposition bet, earned the 11th spot with 15,420,807 votes. Meanwhile, rounding out the 'Magic 12' is former Senator Jinggoy Estrada with 15,108,625 votes.
In his speech, Pangarungan congratulated the Filipino people for being part of a successful holding of the May 9 polls.
“As we usher in a new set of leaders from the local government units up to the national positions, I am proud to say that the Commission on Elections has successfully defended the sovereign right of the people to the democratic process of elections,” Pangarungan said.
“Significantly, this is an election with a very efficient and flawless transparency server that received all election results in record time immediately after voting on election day," he added.
He also approved the conduct of special elections in the Municipality of Tubaran, Lanao del Sur on May 24, 2022
“Whereas, the total number of registered voters in Lanao del Sur is 685,643 while based on the tabulated National Tally Sheet (Report No. 7), the difference between the 12th ranked and the 13th ranked senatorial candidates is 1,844,655 votes,” said the NBOC in Resolution No. 022-22.
“Whereas, on May 17, 2022, the NBOC approved in open session the recommendation of the Supervisory Committee that the National Board of Canvassers can already proceed to proclaim the 12 winning candidates for senator ranked from 1st to the 12th based on the election results from the 172 out of the 173 COCs canvassed by the NBOC considering that the election results in Shanghai and the Province of Lanao del Sur will no longer affect the ranking of the 12 winning candidates for senator,” it added.
