Maguindanao split decided in plebiscite

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao — Thousands of residents in the first district of Maguindanao participated in yesterday’s plebiscite to determine the acceptability of the split of Maguindanao into two provinces.

The new province, named Shariff Kabunsuan, after an Arab preacher who arrived in mainland Mindanao in the 14th century, will cover all of the 10 municipalities of Maguindanao.

Kasan Usi, a senior staffer of the provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said the public would know by tomorrow if the law creating Shariff Kabunsuan province, enacted by the 24-seat Regional Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), has been ratified and fully adopted through an electoral exercise.

The ARMM’s legislature, dubbed as the region’s "Little Congress," can create barangays, towns and provinces as long as the areas to be covered by the new local government units would not alter the jurisdiction of any of the eight congressional districts in the autonomous region.

Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said polling in areas where the Comelec administered the plebiscite was peaceful and orderly.

"We have not received any report of any untoward incident in the areas where the plebiscite was held," Ando said.