We have 12 (FINALLY)

Last Friday, July 13, 2007, senatorial candidate Aquilino "KOKO" L. Pimentel III's petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) was denied by the Supreme Court. So I was not surprised that the 12th Honorable Senator was finally proclaimed by the COMELEC yesterday, Saturday, July 14, 2007 or two months after the May 14, 2007 elections.

"Juan Miguel 'MIGZ" F. Zubiri"

garnered a total of 11,004,099
votes, besting Koko Pimentel
by only a margin of 19,242
votes. who got 10,984,807.

For both candidates, and the nation, it may well be the longest two months in their lives. Be as it may, the COMELEC's performance is dismal in my pedestrian point of view. Per COMELEC data, there are 43,094,640 registered voters in the Philippines. Out this number, only 29,491,488 actually voted or 68.434%. A good turnout actually but forgive me for asking, does this number include the number of dead who voted and the children in Mindanao who "actually voted" as was shown in various news broadcast and exposes?

As expected, the "victory" of Migz sent various waves towards "losing" candidate Koko for his reaction to this latest development. As of this writing, we still have to wait if Koko will finally concede and sing his swan song or are we up for a reprise. Let's wait and see.

For such a small country, this final result is welcomed though not besmirched with a tinge of doubt in the capability of the electoral body. And I am paying taxes to finance this carnival? WOW!



Better luck next time Koko.