HOUSE Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin G. Romualdez vowed that Congress, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), will “uphold the integrity of the electoral process”.

Romualdez gave this guarantee even as the House of Representatives and Senate began the canvassing or the official tabulation of votes cast for the positions of president and vice president during the May 9 elections.

“As we carry out our duty as enshrined in the Constitution, rest assured that we will uphold the integrity of the electoral process. We shall ensure that the voices of our fellow Filipinos, both here and abroad, as expressed through their ballots are reflected and upheld,” Romualdez said in his preliminary remarks.

Romualdez was officially named chairman of the House contingent of the NBOC.

The canvassing of votes cast by eligible Filipinos will continue on a 24-hour basis until the winners of the presidential and vice presidential race are proclaimed.

“As the Chairperson of the House panel, I give the assurance that the meetings before this Committee on the canvassing of votes will be characterized by accuracy, transparency, and expediency,” added Romualdez, president of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).

That same morning, during the Joint Public Session of Congress that was led by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, the preliminary activities of the canvassing were carried out.

This mainly covered the opening of ballot boxes containing the certificates of canvass (COCs) from the overseas absentee voting (OAV), which was held a few days ahead of the May 9 polls.

The first ballot box opened had “002” markings and came from Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Speaker Velasco designated 11 House lawmakers as regular and alternate members of the Joint Committee, including House contingent chairperson, Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Aside from Romualdez, other regular members are Reps. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Kristine Singson-Meehan, Sharon Garin, Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, and Juliet Marie Ferrer.

The alternate members are Reps. Juan Pablo “Rimpy” Bondoc, John Ty Pimentel, Alfredo Garbin Jr., and Stella Luz Quimbo.

On the part of the Senate, Sotto appointed as regular members Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Nancy Binay, Franklin Drilon, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, and Pia Cayetano, with Zubiri as chairperson of the Senate contingent.

Sotto designated Senators Manuel “Lito” Lapid, Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel, and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa as alternate members.

Under the rules, the Joint Committee shall decide on all questions and issues raised involving the Certificates of Canvass by a majority of vote of its members, each panel voting separately.

In case the two panels disagree, the decision of the chairperson shall prevail. In case of a deadlock, the matter shall be resolved by the Speaker and the Senate President.

Once the canvassing is completed, the joint committee report shall be approved and signed by a majority of the members of the Joint Committee. By Jester Manalastas