‘No votes’ leading Palawan plebiscite

MANILA, Philippines — Votes against the division of Palawan into three provinces were leading, based on the initial canvassing of plebiscite results as of yesterday.

Based on the tally of the Certificate of Canvass (COC) obtained from the municipalities of Narra and Brooke’s Point, the “no votes” garnered a total of 28,903 while the “yes votes” had 18,799.

The Palawan Provincial Board of Canvassers (PPBOC) resumed the canvassing yesterday afternoon after adjourning the session on Saturday as there was no plebiscite returns or certificate of canvass to count at the time.

The canvassing results showed 11,816 “yes votes” and 12,042 “no votes” in Brooke’s Point.

Results from Narra showed 16,861 “no votes” and 6,983 “yes votes.”

The board will resume the canvassing at 9 a.m. today. It will meet everyday until the canvassing is completed.

Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the partial and unofficial canvassing results showed the number of “yes votes” was only half of the “no votes.”

“After the PPBOC finishes tallying the certificates of canvass of votes from all 23 municipalities, it will proclaim the result of the plebiscite,” Comelec said.

Earlier, the poll body projected that the results of the plebiscite, which was conducted on Saturday, would be known by tomorrow.

Poll watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) said it would continue to follow the canvassing process at the municipal and provincial levels.

The plebiscite result will determine whether Palawan will be divided into Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.

Namfrel estimated the voter turnout between 50 percent and 70 percent.

It said the rain discouraged the residents from voting early, but as soon as the weather cleared, many arrived to cast their votes.

Only a few voters used the isolation polling places set up for those who may manifest symptoms of COVID.