Palace satisfied with conduct of polls

MANILA, Philippines – A day after the 2013 midterm polls, Malacañang expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the country’s second automated national elections proceeded.

In a statement released on Tuesday, May 14, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda lauded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and the Filipino people for ensuring the success of the polls despite violent incidents and delays in voting and transmission.

“While there were isolated incidents of violence and equally isolated hitches in the voting process, our insitutions — from the Comelec to its deputized agencies — volunteers for poll-watching, media, and the public came together and their utmost to ensure free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

On election day, several incidents of Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machine malfunction and power outages occurred all over the country, aside from other  election-related violent incidents (ERVIs).

According to the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) latest tally, the number of people killed a day after the elections reached 50 while 65 were so far wounded in various areas.

Team PNoy dominates

Based on the latest partial and unofficial results, the President’s Team PNoy coalition looks set to dominate the Senate.

According to Rappler’s mirror server on the real-time vote as of 1:06 PM, Tuesday, May 14, at least 9 of the 12 Senate seats up for grabs are currently tipped in favor of Team PNoy bets.

“It seems clear that our countrymen have spoken overwhelmingly to confirm and expand the mandate for reform and change that they first granted in 2010 to President Aquino,” Lacierda said.

“The victory of Team PNoy is a renewed mandate for tuwid na daan (straight path), and a vote of confidence for good governance, the continuity of reforms, and a brighter future to come.” – Rappler.com