Yes votes dominate early results in BOL plebiscite

The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law appeared to be winning by a landslide, initial figures from the Commission on Elections' BOL Plebiscite Center showed on Tuesday afternoon.

As of 1:30 p.m., 1,340,043 million voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao voted 'yes' to the BOL while 192,502 said 'no'.

The yes vote prevailed in Lanao del Sur, (503,626 to 9,816), Maguindanao (433,273 as against 15,990), Basilan (123,694 to 5,342) and Tawi-Tawi (143,443 to 9,419).

Of the ARMM provinces, the yes vote BOL only lost in Sulu, 136,007 to 151,935.

The yes vote also has the upper hand in Cotabato City, 38,186 to 26,822, even if Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi is staunchly opposed to the BOL.

The yes vote narrowly lost in Isabela City, Basilan, 19,114 to 22,375.

The highest voter turnout, on the other hand, was registered by the province of Lanao del Sur with 92.59 percent, followed by Tawi-Tawi at 91 percent, Sulu at 79.99 percent and Basilan at 76 percent.

The lowest voter turnout thus far is in Isabela City, Basilan with 58.33 percent, followed by Cotabato City with 60 percent and Maguindanao province with 66.18 percent.

The plebiscite, however, is not yet over.

Day 2 of the polls on BOL ratification is scheduled on February 6 and will be conducted on six municipalities of Lanao del Norte namely Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagaloan and Tangcal and 39 barangays of North Cotabato located in municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Cabacan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan, and Pikit.

The BOL Plebiscite Monitoring Center is composed of contingent from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police and the Commission on Elections. —NB, GMA News