MANILA -- Defective SD cards used overseas have caused a delay in the canvassing of votes, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Sunday.
Frances Arabe, director of the Comelec's education and information department, said the body has yet to finish canvassing votes.
"We are yet to canvass Isabela province, Zamboanga del Sur, Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, USA and Nigeria. We are expecting 2,324,838 votes," she told reporters.
Arabe also said they are still waiting for the certificate of canvass from overseas voting centers.
"These countries are waiting for their SD cards. I cannot explain specifically each country but it is more of an SD card issue," she explained.
According to Arabe, some SD cards used overseas were corrupted, and the replacements have to come from Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The SD cards used overseas are also from the same supplier of SD cards used locally.
"The SD cards are corrupted, and the replacements have to come from our Santa Rosa warehouse, our hub. That's why it took time because they have to ship the replacement SD cards," Arabe said.
Comelec has yet to announce the new schedule for the proclamation of winning senators and party-lists.
As of Saturday night, senators Cynthia Villar and Grace Poe topped the Comelec's partial and official tally with 24,199,174 and 21,183,332 votes, respectively.
Nancy Binay completed the "Magic 12" with 13,784,692 votes.
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