MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Election (Comelec) on Wednesday, May 18 proclaimed the 12 winning senators, nine days after the May 9 national and local elections.
Sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), the Comelec named the elected senators at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
They will form half of the Senate in the upcoming 19th Congress. The list includes three first-timers, five returning senators, and four re-electionists.
Magic 12: The new senators are:
Actor Robin Padilla topped the list with 26.6 million votes per the latest partial and official vote count by the NBOC. Earlier, Padilla admitted he was surprised that he earned the most votes for senator. He said it was a big show of support for his proposed initiative for the government to shift to a federal type of government.
Meanwhile, fellow first-timer broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, with 23.4 million votes, said he plans to follow up on existing bills that plan to decriminalize cyberlibel. He also added that among his top priorities is to focus on bills that protect workers against employers who don’t pay proper wages.
The third first-timer on the list, Mark Villar, with 19.5 million votes, has been one of the top 2 senatorial bets of President Rodrigo Duterte. The president said he couldn’t imagine what his administration would be like if it were not for the former public works chief.
Comelec commissioner George Garcia said they also invited Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo. However, Robredo is still in New York to attend the graduation of her youngest daughter, Jill. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Senate President Tito Sotto, and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo were also listed to grace the event.
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| The final set of 12 senators was officially proclaimed on Wednesday, May 18. |
Sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), the Comelec named the elected senators at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
They will form half of the Senate in the upcoming 19th Congress. The list includes three first-timers, five returning senators, and four re-electionists.
Magic 12: The new senators are:
- Robin Padilla - 26,612,434 votes
- Loren Legarda - 24,264,969 votes
- Raffy Tulfo - 23,396,954 votes
- Sherwin Gatchalian - 20,602,034 votes
- Francis "Chiz" Escudero - 20,271,458
- Mark Villar - 19,475,592 votes
- Alan Peter Cayetano - 19,295,314 votes
- Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri - 18,734,336
- Joel Villanueva - 18,486,034
- Jose Victor 'JV' Ejercito - 15,841,858
- Risa Hontiveros - 15,420,807
- Jinggoy Estrada - 15,108,625
Actor Robin Padilla topped the list with 26.6 million votes per the latest partial and official vote count by the NBOC. Earlier, Padilla admitted he was surprised that he earned the most votes for senator. He said it was a big show of support for his proposed initiative for the government to shift to a federal type of government.
Meanwhile, fellow first-timer broadcaster Raffy Tulfo, with 23.4 million votes, said he plans to follow up on existing bills that plan to decriminalize cyberlibel. He also added that among his top priorities is to focus on bills that protect workers against employers who don’t pay proper wages.
The third first-timer on the list, Mark Villar, with 19.5 million votes, has been one of the top 2 senatorial bets of President Rodrigo Duterte. The president said he couldn’t imagine what his administration would be like if it were not for the former public works chief.
Comelec commissioner George Garcia said they also invited Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo. However, Robredo is still in New York to attend the graduation of her youngest daughter, Jill. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, Senate President Tito Sotto, and Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo were also listed to grace the event.
— Sally, The Summit Express
