‘SPCPD is deemed abolished’

The Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) is "deemed abolished" with the results of the Aug. 14 plebiscite on expanded autonomy for Muslim Mindanao, Commission on Elections (Co—melec) Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said yesterday.

The council was set up as a transitory mechanism for full autonomy in the South.

Borra told reporters that there was a predominant Yes vote for amendments to the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

With the amended Organic Act in place, the SPCPD will be abolished and ARMM Gov. Nur Misuari will lose its chairmanship.

Comelec records show that 484,009 voters favored amendments to the Organic Act, while 110,993 rejected the move.

Part of the amendments will be the inclusion of Basilan and Marawi City in the expanded autonomous set-up, in addition to the region’s four existing provinces — Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao.

These areas approved of being covered by the expanded ARMM. The rest of the 15 provinces and 14 cities where the plebiscite was held voted No.

ARMM elections are slated on Nov. 26 this year. The governor, vice governor and three assemblymen per legislative district will be elected.

With the inclusion of Basilan and Marawi City, the number of legislative districts in the region will increase from seven to nine.

The Comelec counted yesterday the last remaining certificate of canvass from Palawan with 113,843 voting No and 1,717 voting Yes. Voter turnout in the province was placed at 51.46 percent.

Two Palawan towns failed to take part in the plebiscite due to bad weather: Agutaya and Dumaran, which have 3,378 and 7,198 registered voters, respectively.

The Comelec, however, said plebiscite results in the two island-municipalities will not affect the outcome, considering the huge gap between the Yes and No votes.

The poll body expects to formally announce the final plebiscite outcome tomorrow.