The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the national board of canvassers (NBOC), suspended its session at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Monday, May 9, around 4:30 p.m.
In a press briefing, Comelec Commissioner Aimee P. Ferolino said the session was suspended as there is no certificate of canvass (COC) to canvas yet.
"The en banc, through the chair, declared the early suspension since hindi pa naman talaga mag-tra-transmit ‘yung ating VCMs (since the VCMs are not yet transmitting)," she said.
"Remember, mag-clo-close ang voting generally by 7 p.m. so after that doon pa lang magka-count (the voting will close generally at 7 p.m. so after that is when we start to count). So there’s no point waiting..."
Meanwhile, Comelec Acting Spokesperson John Rex S. Laudiangco clarified that what happened to the session was not a "postponement" but a "suspension."
Around 3 p.m., the Comelec en banc convened as NBOC
Sitting as NBOC, the poll body will canvass votes for senators and party-lists.
The Comelec will also canvass votes for overseas absentee voting (OAV) and local absentee voting (LAB)
Comelec Chairperson Saidamen B. Pangarungan said this is the second time the poll body will hold elections during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the Comelec held a plebiscite that will divide Palawan into three provinces. It even released rules to ensure the safe conduct of polls amid the pandemic.