MANILA, Philippines – The national board of canvassers on Tuesday afternoon, May 14, decided to suspend the canvassing for party-list groups to prevent delay in finalizing the tally for senators.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), which sits as the national board, made this decision after motions concerning the party list delayed the canvassing in several instances.

“We’re suspending it because ‘pag pinagsasabay namin, nade-delay ‘yung senatorial dahil mukhang maraming isyu sa party list,” Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr explained. (We’re suspending it because when we do it simultaneously, the canvassing for senatorial votes is delayed because there seems to be many issues concerning the party list.)

Brillantes said once the national board finishes canvassing for the Senate, it will continue the canvassing for party list. “The earlier that we finish the party-list proclamation, the better,” he said.

The issue delaying it was whether the national board should include 12 party-list groups, which it has disqualified, in canvassing votes. These groups include Mike Arroyo’s group, Ang Galing Pinoy.

The national board began to canvass votes for senators and party-list groups on Tuesday. It has counted votes from around 700,000 ballots so far, with senatorial bet Grace Poe leading the count.

Later on Tuesday, the Comelec will provide an official hard copy of the canvassing results so far. – Rappler.com