Voter turnout in Maguindanao plebiscite at 56% at midday - Comelec

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday said that the initial voter turnout in the Maguindanao plebiscite, which was held to determine whether the province will be divided into two, was 56% as of midday.

The figure was expected to hit over 70% as polls closed at 3 p.m., Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said at a press briefing. 

“Inaasahan po namin na mahihigitan pa yung 56% voter turnout. Sa katunayan po kanina ring tanghali ang ating conservative estimate ay lalampas tayo ng 70% voter turnout. Ngunit ngayon po pumapasok paunti unti sa lahat ng munisipyo, mukhang lalampas pa tayong 70%,” he said.

(We anticipate exceeding the 56% voter turnout. In fact, even this afternoon, our conservative estimate is that it will exceed 70% voter turnout. As the votes from the municipalities come in, it looks like we will exceed 70%.)

“If this happens na malampasan natin ang 70%, we are breaking history pagdating sa mga plebisito and we owe that to the people of Maguindanao for deciding for themselves the fate of their province,” he added.

(If we exceed 70%, we are breaking history when it comes to plebiscites, and we owe that to the people of Maguindanao for deciding for themselves the fate of their province.)

The poll body is expected to release the results of the plebiscite on Sunday. 

"Gagawan natin ng paraan na bago magtanghali ay maproclaim na natin kung sino ang nanalo sa plebisitong ito," Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said.

(We'll figure out a way so that we can proclaim which side won the plebiscite before Sunday noon.)

'Peaceful'

Both the Comelec and the Philippine National Police said the plebiscite went smoothly. 

PNP chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said 2,377 PNP personnel were deployed for election duties, with 1,116 assigned to 461 polling centers.

Azurin, citing reports from the Police Regional Office-BARMM, said that election paraphernalia was received as scheduled, polling precincts opened on time, and there were no plebiscite-related incidents reported.

He added that 600 other police personnel were also deployed for civil disturbance management, quick response team, reactionary standby support force, investigation, covert security, and implementation of minimum public health standards.

“It was very peaceful kaya kami nagagalak na ipaabot yan sa ating constituents at residents at voters dito sa province of Maguindanao,” BARMM regional election director Ray Sumalipao said. 

(It was very peaceful. That is why we’re happy to share this development with our constituents, residents, and voters in the province of Maguindanao.)

Dream 

According to Maguindanao Governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu, the residents of Maguindanao have long yearned for the province to be divided into two.

“Matagal na pong pinapangarap, minimithi ng buong lalawigan ng Maguindanao ang mahati ito o maratify ang RA 11550. I believe that the province of Maguindanao soon will be divided into two Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur,” she said.

(For a long time, residents have hoped that the province of Maguindanao would be divided or that the RA 11550 would be ratified. I believe that the province of Maguindanao will soon be divided into two: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.)

She, however, said the division would not be effective this year should the law be ratified after the plebiscite.

“Pagnaratify na natin ang batas na iyon hindi po ibig sabihin na effective agad agad ngayong taon. As to 2022, hindi pa po natin kaagad agad mahati ito dahil tapos na po ang 2022 election at the same time tapos na po ang ating budgeting nung 2021 intended for 2022,” she said.

(If it is ratified, it will not be effective immediately this year. As for 2022, we will not divide it immediately because the 2022 election was over, and at the same time, our budgeting for 2021 intended for 2022 was also concluded.)

Laudiangco echoed this, stating the plebiscite was only the first of several steps. 

“Ang plebisito po ay first step pa lamang kung sakali pong maratify at manalo ang ‘yes’ mararatify po ang RA 11550 at pati yung creation po ng dalawang Maguindanao, [yung] Maguindanao del Norte at Maguindanao del Sur,” Laudiangco said.

(The plebiscite is only the first step. If the 'yes' wins, RA 11550 will be ratified to give way to the creation of two Maguindanao provinces, which are Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.)

“Yung transitory provision ng RA 11550 may mga hakbang po doon, so ano po yung unang hakbang para magkaroon ng corporate existence, yung corporate existence yung kakilanlan nung dalawang probinsya eh kailangan po magcompose, magqualify, at magassume yung ating provincial elective officials,” he added.

(The transitory provision of RA 11550 contains guidelines, so what is the first step to having a corporate existence? The corporate existence is the recognition of the two provinces. It is necessary for our provincial elective officials to qualify and assume office.)

“Third step, they have 60 days to organize the whole provincial governments, ito po ay naayon sa pagkakasunod sunod ng transitory provisions. Hindi lang po iyon. Ultimately the two provinces will have to settle their assets, properties, liabilities, and debts,” he said.

(For the third step, they have 60 days to organize the provincial governments. This is in accordance with the transitory provisions. Aside from that, ultimately the two provinces will have to settle their assets, properties, liabilities, and debts.) 

Under Republic Act 11550, or the law dividing the province of Maguindanao into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, the two provinces will be created upon approval by the majority of the votes cast by the voters of the affected areas in a plebiscite to be conducted and supervised by the Comelec within 90 days from the date of the effectivity of the law. 

Former President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law on May 27, 2021. 

Under the law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay. Its seat of government will be Datu Odin Sinsuat. 

Maguindanao del Sur will be composed of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi. Its seat of government will be Buluan. — VBL, GMA News