Congress, convening as the National Board of Canvassers, is expecting to proclaim the president-elect and vice-president elect on Wednesday, according to House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez.

During the resumption of the canvassing of votes for the presidential and vice presidential elections, Romualdez said the Joint Canvassing Committee has already completed 60.69 percent of the total number of Certificates of Canvass (COCs), as of 11:03 p.m. Tuesday.

“With sixty-eight COCs left, we are expecting to finish the canvassing of the COCs today and, after the submission of the Joint Committee Report and the adoption of the Resolution of Both Houses, we shall have proclaimed the President and Vice President-elect before this day ends,” Romualdez said.

He noted that the manifestations of the candidates’ legal counsels, who interposed no objections to the inclusion of all COCs, during the first day of the proceedings reflect the highest level of confidence in the conduct and results of the 2022 elections.

“We shall continue to conduct the canvassing proceedings with integrity, transparency, accuracy, and expediency,” Romualdez said.

Based on the latest canvass of votes, presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads with over 31,189,627 votes, while Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is also ahead the vice presidential race with 31,666,969 votes.

Some 147 of 173 COCs had been canvassed as of posting time.

The proclamation will take place after the submission of the committee report and the adoption of the resolution by the Joint Public Session. (PNA)