MANILA, Philippines – At least 9 senatorial candidates appear to be assured of their slots in the Magic 12 while 6 others are fighting for the last 3 seats, based on Rappler estimates of the unofficial tally.
The 9 are incumbent senators Franklin Drilon and Vicente Sotto III, returning senators Panfilo Lacson, Richard Gordon, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Francis Pangilinan, and 3 newcomers to the Senate – former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Joel Villanueva, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, and former Akbayan representative Risa Hontiveros.
13th placer Francis Tolentino, who has roughly 12.4 million votes in the ongoing tally, can no longer catch up to the Top 9 with less than 2.7 million votes left to be transmitted as of 10 pm on Tuesday, May 10.
This estimate is based on the 81% turnout among 55 million voters and a transmission rate of 94% as of 10 pm.
6 bets fighting for last 3 seats
But Tolentino can still make his way to the Magic 12 if he gets enough votes to displace candidates ranking 10th to 12th.
Six candidates have statistical chances to win the last 3 seats. Ranking 10th to 12th are Valenzuela City Representative Sherwin Gatchalian (14.5 million votes), incumbent senator Ralph Recto (13.7 million votes), and former justice secretary Leila De Lima (13.6 million votes). (READ: Senate race shows signs of 'junking' – Pulse Asia)
Aside from Tolentino, incumbent senator Sergio Osmeña III (12.2 million votes) and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez (11.9 million votes) also still have statistical chances of making it to the winning circle. (READ: 3 reelectionist senators in danger of losing seats)
But it will not be easy for Tolentino, Osmeña, and Romualdez to pull off victories. Aside from getting almost all of the remaining votes, Gatchalian, Recto, and De Lima will also have to get small percentages of the votes still to be transmitted.
It also appears that incumbent senator Teofisto Guingona III has failed in his bid to return to the Senate. He has about 9.9 million votes as of 10:55 pm on Tuesday.
(See below for the latest rankings and tally of votes in the senatorial race.)
– Rappler.com