Joint session OKs rules for canvassing of presidential, VP votes

MANILA, Philippines – The joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the rules for the canvassing of votes for the presidential and vice presidential candidates.

The joint session of the 16th Congress began at 4 p.m. after a two-hour delay with 14 senators and 181 representatives present for quorum.

Initially, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. asked for any objection or amendment to approve the rules of the joint public session for the canvassing of votes.

Sen. Vicente Sotto II proposed an amendment to add the word “separately” in the phrase: “Any issue involving the president and vice president may be decided,” to avert any possibility of delays. However, Senate Majority leader and vice presidential candidate Alan Peter Cayetano said upon consulting a lawyer, it was determined that Sotto’s amendment was only a reiteration of inherent power of the committees of the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC).

With the conditions mentioned by Cayetano, Sotto withdrew his motion while ABAKADA Rep. Jonathan Dela Cruz also called for a similar amendment to advise the NBOC members that there are two separate Certificates of Canvass. However, Drilon said the questions raised by some members of the House will be asked during the session of the NBOC and not in the plenary.

All members of the Congress approved the rules to govern the canvassing for president and vice president.

Drilon announced that the seven members part of the Senate panel canvassing committee are: Panel Chair Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III chair of Senate panel, Sens. Teofisto Guingona III, Sergio Osmeña III, Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Ralph Recto, Juan Ponce Enrile, Sotto. On the other hand, the Senate contingent members for the majority are Sen. Cynthia Villar while Sen. JV Ejercito is for the Senate minority.

Likewise, Belmonte said the seven members part of the House panel canvassing committee are: Panel Chair Rep. Neptali Gonzales II; for the House Majority, Reps. Elpidio Barzaga, Romero Quimbo, Reynaldo Umali, Rufus Rodriguez, Fredenil Castro; for the House Minority Reps. Silvestre Bello III; alternate for House Majority, Reps. Oscar Rodriguez, Ibarra Gutierrez III, Rolando Andaya III and for the House of Minority alternate Rep.  Ronaldo Zamora.

The joint session continued with the opening of electronically transmitted COCs from the consolidation and canvassing system. The opening of properly sealed ballot boxes containing manually counted, physically delivered and not electronically transmitted Local Absentee Votes was also opened.

Before the plenary suspends session, the joint session of the Congress Joint Session authorized the canvassing committee to start working on Wednesday, May 25.

“On the part of the Senate the Joint committee is hereby authorized and directed to canvass presidential and vice presidential candidates on May 25 at 2 p.m. at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives,” Drilon proclaimed. Belmonte followed with the authorization of the House.