Canvassing for 2nd BOL plebiscite starts Monday

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), will begin canvassing ballots from the Feb. 6 plebiscite that ratified the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the NPBOC has decided to reconvene on Monday to allow the delivery of ballots to the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila from the plebiscite sites. 

Jimenez said the bulk of the certificates of canvass (COCs) are expected to arrive this weekend.

As of yesterday, the NPBOC’s Reception Committee had received ballot boxes containing the COCs from Carmen, Tulunan and Pigcawayan in North Cotabato.

There are around 600,000 voters in the second leg of the plebiscite for BOL.

Covered by the plebiscite is the entire province of Lanao del Norte, except for Iligan City, and 67 barangays in seven towns in North Cotabato.

As this developed, officials of Lanao del Norte and its residents called on the military and police not to pull out troops even after the conclusion of the plebiscite in the province.

Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo cited the videos made by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leader Abdulrahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, making a statement with his combatants in full battle gear in the background on the eve of the plebiscite.

Dimaporo said many residents see the video as a threat.

She blamed the MILF for the bomb explosions in the towns of Kauswagan, Lala and Sultan Naga Dimaporo on the eve of the plebiscite.

The entire province of Lanao del Norte voted against the inclusion of its six municipalities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao under the BOL.

Meanwhile, Jimenez said the printing of 61 million ballots for the May 13 midterm elections at the National Printing Office in Quezon City starts today.

Jimenez added they had to make adjustments on the list of candidates due to the withdrawal of former presidential spokesman Harry Roque from the senatorial race.  – With Lino dela Cruz