With the proclamation of the winners in the presidential and vice presidential races set this week, constituting a quorum for the joint session of Congress that would name the winning bets has become a main cause of concern of congressional leaders.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said that while he expects senators to come in full force for the proclamation proceedings, the same cannot be assured of their counterparts in the House of Representatives.

Zubiri said the five still untabulated certificates of canvass (CoCs) were expected to be tallied before the Joint Congressional Canvassing Committee adjourns Monday.

He added that almost “three fourths” of the committee report had already been completed by the secretariat which has also readied the resolution of proclamation that would be voted upon by lawmakers when they meet in a joint session.

“We can do it (proclamation) because I know the committee report will be ready by then. However, we also have to give more time to distribute the invitations to all members of Congress,” the Senate official added.

However, Zubiri said their current main concern is constituting a quorum when the joint session is called.

Zubiri said a quorum of both Houses of Congress is required to be able to vote on the committee report and the resolution that would proclaim the winners in the top posts contested in the May 10 elections.

“Nakakahiya kung hindi pa makasipot sa sesyon ang marami. They should be reminded that it is their constitutional duty and mandate to attend the joint session,” the lawmaker added. (“It would be embarrassing if many of us will not show up.”)

The senator’s fear is not without any basis.

Last Friday, the House failed to reach quorum to ratify the bicameral committee report on the proposed Freedom of Information Act (FoI).

Only 128 out of a quorum requirement of 135 congressmen showed up during roll call, prompting Speaker Prospero Nograles to declare an adjournment.

Zubiri said Nograles and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile will have no other recourse but to likewise adjourn in case a quorum is not constituted during the date of proclamation.

Meanwhile, at Monday’s resumption of canvassing, Nograles revealed that the CoC from Lanao del Sur has yet to be transmitted to the canvassing panel as of 2 p.m.

On the other hand, Enrile said the canvassing committee was also tasked to resolve six pleadings filed by Liberal Party presidential bet, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, before the body could complete its task.

According to Enrile, Roxas’ lawyers want the committee to reconsider its previous resolution rejecting appeals for the re-canvassing of CoCs from Nueva Ecija, Cagayan, Isabela, Laguna, and two other provinces which he failed to identify.

These matters are expected to delay the termination of the canvassing proceedings and the eventual proclamation of winners.

Aquino-Roxas Bantay Balota deputy national coordinator Joey Tenefrancia also appealed for a random manual audit (RMA) of votes in a bid to prevent the disenfranchisement of an estimated three million voters whose votes have been considered null and were no longer included in the national canvass.