High turnout, no disruptions as Maguindanao votes to split province
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:52 p.m.) — Maguindanao will now be divided into two provinces after the Commission on Elections reported the successful completion of the plebiscite, with the majority of the residents voting in favor to split the province.
According to the complete and official canvass of the provincial plebiscite board, 99.27% or 706,558 have voted in favor of dividing the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. Only 0.73% or 5,209 voted against the measure.
The poll body said the Maguindanao plebiscite saw the second highest voter turnout for province-wide plebiscites based on percentage at 86.93% after 711,767 out of the 881,790 registered voters participated, trailing behind the 89.73% turnout of the 1998 plebiscite creating Compostella Valley.
“People are not afraid to cast their votes. They trust the process so much,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia told the media.
The weekend’s plebiscite sought to ratify Republic Act 11550, which former President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law in May last year. The province of Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of 12 municipalities and Maguindanao del Sur will have 24.
“The creation of the two Provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur had long been hoped for by the Maguindanaoans and their elected leaders,” the Comelec said in a statement on Sunday afternoon.
The province of Maguindanao del Norte will include the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay.
Meanwhile, Maguindanao del Sur will cover 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, and Mamasapano.
Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi are also municipalities under the jurisdiction of Maguindanao del Sur.
The poll body held its plebiscite on Satuday, September 17. The National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL), citing initial obcservations, said that its volunteers found the conduct of the plebiscite “smooth and peaceful,” while the closing, counting, and canvassing of the votes was “very smooth, peaceful, and transparent.”
Based on NAMFREL’s 1 p.m. report on Saturday, “no untoward incidents [were] observed.” Polling closed to voters at 3 p.m. but those in line at the voting centers were still accommodated.
Despite the higher voter turnout and Comelec’s Garcia saying there was “not a single disruption,” the poll watchdog noted that there were some voters in Talitay who did not participate “because they do not feel safe enough to go out and vote.”
“However, the principal at a voting center there remarked that the plebiscite has been very peaceful compared to regular elections, which the principal said are characterized by security-related incidents,” NAMFREL said in its 1 p.m. report.
Meanwhile, the Comelec on Sunday afternoon thanked government agencies it worked with to ensure the success of the plebiscite, including the Department of Education, the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the officials from the Maguindanao provice and the Bangsamoro region executives.
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