Administration coalition Team PNoy secured eight of twelve available seats at the Senate with the proclamation of Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Aquilino Pimentel III, and social entrepreneur Benigno Aquino IV as senators-elect Friday night.
Of the three new senators-elect, though, only Aquino attended the proclamation ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. Trillanes was out of town and Pimentel opted not to attend out of concern that his proclamation, with the canvassing of votes yet to be concluded, would be premature.
On Thursday night, winning United Nationalist Alliance candidate Nancy Binay also skipped the proclamation ceremony. She explained Friday that she wanted every vote counted before accepting any proclamation.
Although they missed the ceremonies, Binay, Pimentel, and Trilanes have been effectively proclaimed, the Commission on Elections said.
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Photo: Facebook page of Bam Aquino
