Low voter turnout on BOL plebiscite 2nd day — Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the plebiscite on the inclusion of additional areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Wednesday yielded a low voter turnout.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, only around 60 percent of the expected number of voters took part in the February 6 plebiscite.

"Malaki rin po 'yung impact ng Jolo explosion," Comelec Region 12 director Michael Abas said, referring to the deadly twin bombing at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral that killed at least 23 in Jolo last Sunday.

Abas said it was also possible that people were simply "not interested to participate in this election exercise."

Nevertheless, the Philippine National Police (PNP) considered the second day of voting was generally peaceful.

This includes the precinct in Balatikan, Pikit said to be the turf of the Nur Misuari-led faction Moro International Liberation Front (MILF), which has expressed opposition to the BOL.

At the precinct in Camp Rajah Muda in the same town, MILF's Eastern Mindanao base commander Jack Abas said they encouraged the residents to help maintain peace and order during the election.

"We conducted a series of advocacy informing our people about the BARMM and the BOL. They are all enlightened about the advantages of the BARMM and the BOL," he told GMA News.

However, a 23-year-old in Aleosan, Cotabato was caught carrying a firearm outside a polling precinct despite the gun ban and claiming it was for self defense.

"Dinala ko baril ko, 'yung kapatid ko, sinuntok niya ako. Matagal na kaming nag-away," explained Mokamad Sansawi, who is facing raps for Illegal Possession of Firearms.

Authorities are also investigating an altercation involving one voter tearing up another person's ballot after the latter voted "no."

"When he saw that the other person is writing a 'no' vote, he grabbed the voting form of the victim and (tore) it. When the teacher noticed, he referred it to the PlebCom (plebiscite committee)," PNP Region 12 deputy director Senior Superintendent Oliver Enmodias said. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News