SECURITY measures are already in place in preparation for the transfer of the physical copies of the Certificates of Canvass (COCs) and election returns (ERs) for the presidential and vice-presidential race from the Senate going to the House,
According to Senate Sgt. at Arms Rene Samonte, the Senate has already coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authorityh for a closely guarded transfer of the election documents to Congress.
The documents will transferred on May 23, or the day that the Senate and the Lower House will resume their sessions. It will also be on May 23 where both houses of Congress, which will act as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), will hold a Joint Session to canvass the votes and proclaim the winners in the presidential and vice presidential races.
It is also expected that on May 23 or even before the national canvassing starts, the physical copies of all 173 COCs will already be at the Senate.
Based on the Constitution and guidelines, the Senate President will serve as caretaker of the COC and ERs before the canvassing commences.
Also, based on the automated election law, the electronically transmitted COCs will be canvassed and based on this, all COCs must be in already with the so-called Consolidated and Canvassing System that is located in Congress and was already opened by the Senate President and House Speaker last Monday.
But even if the electronically transmitted COCs will be used in the canvassing, the physical copies are likewise important and should be taken care of because they will be used in assessing or reviewing discrepancies or in case of protests.