Comelec chief Garcia eyes 25% turnout in Parañaque plebiscite

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia is hoping for at least a 25% voter turnout in the Parañaque plebiscite held on Saturday on the proposed adjustment of the territorial boundaries of five coastal barangays.

In a Super Radyo dzBB report by Mao Dela Cruz, Garcia said the plebiscite covered more than 79,000 registered voters in Parañaque City.

The plebiscite will determine whether residents support adjusting and extending the territorial jurisdiction of Barangays Baclaran, Tambo, Don Galo, La Huerta, and San Dionisio.

The proposal seeks to use a straight-line boundary method to divide and allocate reclaimed lands along Manila Bay among the five coastal barangays in accordance with City Ordinance No. 2023-19.

Early voting for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) was held from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., followed by regular voting from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Voting was also conducted for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Parañaque City Jail from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m.

Garcia said the voting was conducted manually, as will the counting of votes and the proclamation of the results.

According to Dela Cruz's report, members of the Plebiscite Board of Canvassers were scheduled to convene at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Parañaque City Coliseum to receive and tally the votes.

Garcia explained that the outcome of the plebiscite will be determined by a plurality of votes, rather than a simple majority.

"Hindi po kailangan dito na majority votes, ibig sabihin kahit na 80,000 ang voting population hindi po kinakailangan na 40,001 na makaboto… Ang pagbabasehan po ng proklamasyon ng Comelec ay kung alin ang nakakuha ng pinakamataas na boto," Garcia told reporters.

(A majority vote is not required here. That means even if the voting population is 80,000, 40,001 votes are not required. The basis for the Comelec's proclamation will simply be whichever side receives the highest number of votes.)

Comelec said the plebiscite results could be released as early as Saturday night or by 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 26. —VBL, GMA News