The 12 winning senators in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the 2022 polls will be proclaimed on May 18 but without their rankings yet.
Comelec Acting Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said they will be proclaimed without their rankings yet as they will still wait for the conduct of special elections in several barangays in Lanao del Sur this month.
"For the senators, we will proclaim the 12 but there wil be no standing or ranking. The 12 who garnered the highest votes will be proclaimed. There will be no standing or ranking in the meantime because we will complete Lanao del Sur," he said in a press briefing Monday, May 16.
"The oversight committee, together with the supervisory committee and other working committees already made a computation that those remaining votes that yet to be submitted or transmitted will not affect the Magic 12. It may affect the standing but not the winning senators that's why we are confident to proclaim the 12 on May 18 at 4 p.m. and the party-lists on May 19," added Laudiangco.
He said the winning senators will not be allowed to bring five companions.
"We will adjust the set up here to accommodate more," said Laudiangco.
As to the party-lists, he said, they are allowed two representatives.
Laudiangco also said that not all 63 seats will be proclaimed on Thursday.
"It will only be limited to those who have or are sure that have garnered the guaranteed seats," he said.
Laudiangco added that the remaining total number of party-list votes might affect the positioning and standing of the party-list groups.
The Comelec en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, is canvassing the votes for senators and party-lists at the Philippine International Convention Center Forum Tent in Pasay City.