MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), has canvassed 82 Certificates of Canvass (COCs) for senators and party-lists representing over 33 million registered voters in the country and abroad.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said the number is 50.36 percent of the total 173 COCs that they will canvass.

“We’re now on our 3rd day of canvassing for senators and party-lists. Canvass Report No. 2 presents the data from the 82 COCs already canvassed by the NBOC,” he said in a press conference Thursday afternoon.

“For the 82 COCs, it covers 33,965,926 registered voters. Voter turnout is 84.81 percent. That’s how high our turnout in areas that have been canvassed,” he added.

He reported that their approximate turnout is around 80.5 to 81 percent.

“We expect more or less 54 million out of 67 million registered voters…Our estimate is around 80.5 percent to 81 percent voter turnout…” Laudiangco said.

Meanwhile, actor Robin Padilla has maintained the top spot position for the senatorial race while former senator Loren Legarda is now in second place overtaking broadcaster Raffy Tulfo.

Based on the partial and official National Tally Sheet Report No. 2 of the NBOC at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) Forum Tent in Pasay City, Padilla has a total of 13,231,228 votes, followed by Legarda with 12,290,805 and Tulfo with 12,223,867 votes.

Re-electionist Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (10,427,847) placed fourth, followed by former Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero (10,403,405); and former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano (9,852,390).

Former Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (7th) with 9,799,932 votes, also landed in the top 12, together with re-electionist Senator Migz Zubiri with 9,610,489 votes (8th); and Senator Joel Villanueva with 9,488,272 votes (9th).

Completing the roster were former senator JV Ejercito, 8,005,848 votes; re-electionist Senator Risa Hontiveros, 7,826,216 votes; and former senator Jinggoy Estrada, 7,678,819 votes.

In the party-list race, the ACT-CIS party-list got the top spot with 1,112,991 votes. It was followed by Ako Bicol, 513,403; 1-Rider Party-list, 453,712; 4Ps, 427,779; Ang Probinsyano, 421,253; Sagip, 411,440; Cibac, 394,750; Ako Bisaya, 391,242; Probinsyano Ako, 380,119; and Tingog, 364,699.

As of 7 p.m., May 12, the NBOC has canvassed a total of 121 COCs out of 173. The votes canvassed have yet to be released as of press time. (PNA)