53.9% voter turnout in Carmona plebiscite – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — More than half of registered voters in Carmona, Cavite participated in the plebiscite held yesterday to ratify the conversion of the municipality into a component city.

Data released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed that 31,632 or 53.9 percent of the 58,691 registered voters cast their votes in 10 voting centers.

The Paligawan Elementary School recorded the highest voter turnout at 63.99 percent or 1,075 out of 1,680 registered voters.

The Lantic Elementary School had the lowest voter turnout at 42.14 percent or 3,641 out of 8,641 registered voters.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the plebiscite started at 7 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m.

“There were no untoward incidents. The process – from distribution of paraphernalia to setting up of polling places and actual voting – has been smooth,” Laudiangco in said an interview

A Comelec team led by Chairman George Erwin Garcia visited four of the voting centers early yesterday. These are the Carmona National High School, Carmona Elementary School, Bancal Elementary School and Lantic Elementary School.

Laudiangco said the plebiscite board of canvassers is expected to finish canvassing the votes and release the results around 10 p.m. last night.

Peaceful, orderly

Police confirmed that no untoward incident was reported during the plebiscite.

“Everything is under control, so quiet, peaceful and orderly... due to the cooperation of the voters,” Cavite police director Col. Cristopher Olazo said.

He said the entire police force in the province had been placed on full alert for the plebiscite.

Olazo said 252 police personnel, including four ordnance experts, 10 from the Special Weapon and Tactics unit and three investigators, were dispatched to various polling precincts.

The conversion of Carmona into a city is provided under Republic Act 11938, which President Marcos signed on Feb. 23.

Under the law, the City of Carmona shall acquire corporate existence upon ratification by a majority of the votes cast in the plebiscite.

A plurality of the yes votes will bring to eight the number of cities in Cavite.

The other seven are Cavite City, Trece Martires, Tagaytay, Dasmariñas, Bacoor, Imus and General Trias.