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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Comelec finishes historic 3-day vote canvassing

Comelec finishes historic 3-day vote canvassing

Bong Go tops 2025 senatorial race

Published May 16, 2025 01:34 pm

At A Glance

  • The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made history by completing the national canvassing for the May 2025 midterm elections in just three days with a record 82.20% voter turnout, proclaiming 12 new senators led by Bong Go and earning praise for a peaceful, transparent, and inclusive electoral process.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) made history on Thursday, May 15, after completing the national canvassing of votes for the May 2025 midterm elections in just three days.
Wrapping up its session on Thursday night, May 15, the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) tallied all 175 Certificates of Canvass (COCs) from local and overseas precincts, culminating in the proclamation preparations for the 12 newly elected senators.
In the poll body's official count, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go topped the senatorial race with 27,121,073 votes, leading a field of 66 candidates.
He is followed by:
Bam Aquino – 20,971,899
Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa – 20,773,946
Erwin Tulfo – 17,118,881
Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan – 15,343,229
Rodante Marcoleta – 15,250,723
Panfilo "Ping" Lacson – 15,106,111
Vicente "Tito" Sotto III – 14,832,996
Pia Cayetano – 14,573,430
Camille Villar – 13,651,274
Lito Lapid – 13,394,102
Imee Marcos – 13,339,227
In a press conference on Friday, May 16, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that in comparison, canvassing by the NBOC during the 2022 presidential elections took 25 days.
Meanwhile, Comelec also reported a historic voter turnout of 82.20 percent, the highest ever recorded in a midterm election.
“It only means the Filipino people trusted the entire process. They wanted their votes to be counted and their voices to be heard,” Garcia said during the NBOC’s final session
The 175 COCs included:
  • 64 from Philippine Posts abroad (Overseas Voting)
  • 110 from provinces, cities, municipalities, and districts in the Philippines
  • 1 from the Local Absentee Voting
The canvassing occurred across three days:
  • May 13 (Tuesday): 58 COCs canvassed
  • May 14 (Wednesday): 101 COCs canvassed
  • May 15 (Thursday): 16 COCs canvassed
During the NBOC session, Garcia instructed the Supervisory Committee to formally turn over the audited National Tally Sheets for both senatorial and party-list races to recommend whether the proclamation of the 12 winning senators can proceed by Saturday, May 17.
“If the recommendation is favorable, the Secretariat will issue letters of invitation to the 12 winning senatorial candidates,” Garcia said. He added that the proclamation for party-list winners may follow on Monday, May 19, depending on further recommendations from the Supervisory Group.
In a statement on behalf of election lawyers, veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal praised Comelec’s leadership, emphasizing that “not a single vote was missed” and “no voter was disenfranchised.” He also commended the entire commission and congratulated the poll body for a job well done for the country and the people.
Macalintal also addressed allegations of election fraud, asserting that there was “no dagdag-bawas,” and that any doubts can be resolved through the Random Manual Audit (RMA).
In turn, Garcia expressed Comelec's gratitude towards the thousands of electoral board (EB) members, the teachers, the poll workers, the Comelec field and main office personnel, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), all citizens' arm of the Comelec, and all other stakeholders who have a hand in this orderly and peaceful election.
"It may not be as perfect as everybody had expected, but what is important is that nobody is disenfranchised, nobody is set aside," Garcia said.
"This is truly the election of the Filipino people," he added.
The poll chief said that if there were shortcomings on the part of your Comelec, if the voters saw anything they did that was not right or not enough, Garcia asked for understanding, they would be given the chance, because there will always be room for improvement.
"We are always committing to you that the mandate given to us by the Constitution, the Comelec will always, always, to the best of our abilities and knowledge, will always perform," he added.

Related Tags

Comelec May 2025 elections George Garcia
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