Pro and anti-BOL caravans face off on last day of campaign

On Saturday, the last day of campaigning for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), supporters of the law in Cotabato City held a gathering during which they expressed their optimism that the BOL would finally bring sustainable peace and development to the conflict-torn region.

However, a crowd of anti-BOL protesters had also gathered, and their banners that read "No to BOL inclusion, No to fake promises" did not go unnoticed.

The people of Cotabato City, along with the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Isabela City in Basilan will have the chance to cast their approval or disapproval of the BOL on Monday - January 21.

Meanwhile, GMA 7 news program "24 Oras: Weekend" reported that public school teachers, who were part of the plebiscite committee (PlebCom) tasked to oversee the voting process, encountered a problem with the Cotabato City Treasury Office.

The teachers were reportedly not allowed to inspect the election paraphernalia, at least not immediately, as they failed to present appointment letters.

Rommel Rama, election officer of Cotabato City, attempted to sort out the confusion. "Kahapon lang binigay sakin 'yung list of teachers na magse-serve as plebcom. Kaya siguro nagkakaroon ng problema sa City Treasurer's Office," Rama explained.

Around 20 of the teachers were also surprised to find that they were tasked to monitor different polling places at the same time.

Tarhata Dumamba, who was assigned to three different centers, said. "Worried kasi siyempre, identity mo 'yan eh. So parang pangit kasi sa government na hindi maalis ang gan'yang sistema. So, as much as possible, mabura na yan (sana)."

The Department of Education (DepEd), however, gave the assurance that there were enough teachers to fill over 1,100 PlebCom positions needed to oversee the 33 polling centers or 374 clustered precincts for the plebiscite on Monday.

According to Ferdhausse Ali, the City Schools Division of Cotabato focal person on election matters: "Immediately may replacement na po doon sa public school teachers po."

The schools division was also coordinating with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve the matter.

Meanwhile, residents of Lanao del Norte, except Iligan City, and six towns in North Cotabato, would also be participating in the referendum but on February 6.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said they had not monitored any threat to security in Marawi City.

Nevertheless, the military was prepared to face any election-related violence in the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte.

Newly-appointed Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Benjamin Madrigal was in Marawi to inspect  security preparations. — DVM, GMA News