By Rene Acosta & Samuel P. Medenilla
PARTICIPANTS of the second part of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite defied expectations of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) by still casting their votes despite threats to their safety.
Citing their initial field reports, Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez said some areas in Lanao del Norte reported an over 75-percent voter turnout. “It is very high considering our concern that the turnout will be depressed because of concerns and fear,” Jimenez said during a press conference.
This despite two separate explosions in Kauswagan and Lala in Lanao del Norte the day before the plebiscite on Wednesday.
“People still came out to vote. They came in smaller batches compared to the previous [plebiscite], but the stream of arrivals has been steady,” he added.
He did note, however, that they would still have to wait for the conclusion of the plebiscite before they can come out with a conclusive overall voter turnout for the second plebiscite.
The Comelec earlier said they are anticipating a lower turnout in for the second round of the plebiscite due to security concerns and the lower stakes.
Unlikely rumors
Jimenez also addressed concerns over rumors, which circulated in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato, claiming that those who will not participate in the plebiscite will no longer be allowed to vote in the May 13 midterm polls.
He said the statement is untrue, since they have already finalized the list of registered voters for the 2019 polls.
The poll official also noted plebiscites are not considered as regular election, but a special election.
“You see, under the rules, if you missed two regular elections, you will be deactivated, and the effect of being deactivated is to not be able to vote in the succeeding elections,” Jimenez said.
He said this might explain the high voter turnout for the second plebiscite.
“A high turnout is good, but we don’t agree with the means. This is a wrong way of generating a high turnout, since it involves deceiving the public,” Jimenez said.
Smooth operations
As of 2 p.m. yesterday—an hour before the end of the plebiscite—Jimenez said they deemed the activity a success, at least in terms of all the covered clustered precincts in the Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato that operated without any issue.
“By 8:30 a.m., we received the report [that] 100 percent of the precincts of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato opened and [are] functioning,” Jimenez said.
The Comelec also pointed out the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) did not report any untoward incident.
The National Plebiscite Board of Canvassing (NPBOC) will convene on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Comelec main office in Manila to start the national canvassing of the plebiscite results.
The process is expected to be completed in four days.
Security assessment
The plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law in North
Cotabato and Lanao del Norte on Wednesday was generally peaceful and orderly, capping
the two-phase ratification for the law that would govern the Bangsamoro, police
and military officials reported
on Wednesday.
The security situation was reported by ground forces just two hours before the polling centers were to close at 3 p.m. in the two provinces.
“It’s generally peaceful. As of this time, everything is peaceful and our teachers are at their polling centers,” said Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar D. Albayalde, a statement that was supported by the military through public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato.
Three explosions rocked the municipalities of Lala,
Kauswagan and Sultan Naga Dimaporo, all in Lanao del Norte, on the eve of the
plebiscite. The blasts hurt no one, and Albayalde said these were meant to
create fear or
intimidate voters.
The PNP chief said the motives behind the bombings were still being investigated and the suspects have not been identified.
Detoyato said that based on the reports of the military’s Joint Task Forces Central and Zampelan, almost all of the polling centers opened at exactly 8 a.m., with the teachers reporting for their election duties.
50-85% turnout
He said that based on the report of the Joint Task Force Central, as of 1 p.m., the municipalities of Aleosan, Pikit, Carmen, Midsayap, Pigcawayan and Tulunan—all in North Cotabato—have already registered a voter’s turnout of from 50 up to 85 percent.
In Lanao del Norte, the Joint Task Force Zampelan also reported a 50-percent voter’s turnout.
“No violent incidents were reported,” said Detoyato.
“The PNP security operations in Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato are well in place to make the plebiscite safe, peaceful and orderly,” noted PNP Spokesman Senior Supt. Bernard Banac.
2 cops arrested
Meanwhile, the Iligan City Police in Lanao del Norte
reported that it arrested two policemen from Lanao del Sur for possessing
firearms without gun ban exemption clearance
from the Comelec.
The policemen were identified as PO1 Johaimen Tomondog Mohamad and PO1 Rasid Arumpac Lambay, members of the Pantar Municipal Police Station, Lanao del Norte. They were apprehended at a police checkpoint at around 5 p.m. along C-3 Road, Tomas Cabili, Iligan City.
“[The] persons failed to present a Comelec Certification for Gun Ban Exemption and Comelec Clearance to Provide VIP Security to a politician,” said the Iligan City Police Station.
Taken from the two policemen were an M-16 rifle, a Glock 17 9mm pistol, a .45 caliber pistol and an MP5 mini rifle.
Palace condemns blasts
Meanwhile, Malacañang deplored the three explosions in Lanao
del Norte on the eve of the second leg of the BOL plebiscite as it assured that
the military is in full alert to protect
the citizens.
The Palace said that the blasts “stem from acts of cowardice on the part of those who resist change and want to perpetuate the climate of fear, hopelessness and poverty among the Bangsamoro people and the Christian inhabitants in Mindanao.”
“The road to lasting peace in that region is not without obstacles strewn by those who foment disunity and who purvey the status quo. We shall not be waylaid by the twin forces of obstruction and destruction,” Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said in a statement.
The recent explosions also came in the wake of deadly
explosions in Sulu and Zamboanga City.
With a report by Bernadette D. Nicolas