Philippine house panel for canvassing votes formed

The Philippine House of Representatives named on Friday the members of the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) that will work with the Senate to tabulate the votes for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates starting next week, sources with the House of Representatives said Friday.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles will act as the chairman on the part of the Lower House. The House also named nine alternate members.

Meanwhile, the Upper Chamber is yet to name its members to the NBOC but as practiced in the past, the Senate president, or Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, will act as co-chairman.

Both the House and the Senate will convene in their respective chambers to approve the draft rules of canvassing on May 24. After a common set of rules is approved, they will convene jointly at the building of the House in Batasan complex in Quezon City to start canvassing.

The Philippines held its first ever automated elections on May 10. The country's congress will canvass votes for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates next week, as some people demanded the investigation into cases of fraud, vote buying and some other irregularities after the election.

Source: Xinhua