MANILA - Nearly all the 80.84 percent of Maguindanao's registered voters agreed to ratify a law seeking to divide the province into two during a plebiscite held on Saturday. In a statement on Sunday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the figure was based on official plebiscite municipal canvass of votes. Laudiangco said the Maguindanao split plebiscite's 80.84 percent voter turnout was second to the record set in 1998 referendum that created Compostela Valley from Davao Del Norte at 89.73 percent. "As it stands, this Maguindanao plebiscite will have the second highest voter turnout for province-wide plebiscites," he said. He, however, said in terms of total number of registered voters and total number of voters who actually voted at 712,857 out of 881,790, "this is the most participated-in plebiscite, province/city/municipality wide." He said 707,651 or 99.27 percent voted 'yes' while only 5,206 or 0.73 percent registered 'no' votes against dividing the province into Maguindanao Del Norte and Maguindanao Del Sur. The breakdown per proposed province is as follow: Maguindanao Del Norte (12 municipalities) 330,345 total number of voters who actually voted 328,141 YES (99.33 percent) and 2,204 NO (0.67 percent) and Maguindanao Del Sur (24 municipalities) 382,512 total number of voters who actually voted 379,510 YES (99.22 percent) and 3,002 NO (0.78 percent). For his part, Comelec chairman George Garcia attributed the high voter turnout to the willingness of the electorate to participate and believing in the process. "People are not afraid to cast their votes. They trust the process so much," he said. Asked when they expect the provincial board of canvassers to announce the results, Laudiangco said: "We will finish this morning." Peaceful and orderly Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has declared peaceful and orderly the culmination of the plebiscite that sought to ratify measures to divide the province's 36 municipalities under two separate provincial jurisdictions. In a statement on Saturday, Azurin said a total of 2,377 PNP personnel were deployed for election duties during the plebiscite, with 1,116 assigned in 461 polling centers. A sizable number of police personnel was also detailed to provide security to convoys transporting election materials, security at the provincial capitol, municipal hubs, provincial treasurer's office, and 20 mobile checkpoints around the province. Some 600 other police personnel were deployed for civil disturbance management, quick response team, reactionary standby support force, investigation covert security, and implementation of minimum public health standards. Azurin said election paraphernalia was received as scheduled, polling precincts opened on time, and there were no plebiscite-related incidents reported. He said security processes and protocols were organized, and anti-Covid protocols and efforts are still enforced and observed. "I feel happy for the people of Maguindanao for this historic moment that they are afforded this opportunity to decide for themselves the future of their province," Azurin said. In May 2021, former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 11550, or the Charter of the Provinces of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. Under the law, Maguindanao del Norte will be made up of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay. Maguindanao del Sur will be composed of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdullah 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, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi. The capital towns and seats of the government of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur shall be the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Buluan, respectively. (with reports from Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan/PNA) }
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FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT. Lawyer Cyrus Torrena, Maguindanao provincial administrator, speaks before members of Maguindanao Sangguniang Panlalawigan Monday (Aug. 15, 2022) to solicit their support on the ratification of Republic Act 11550 dividing Maguindanao into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. The creation of the new provinces aims to deliver faster and more efficient services to the people. (Photo courtesy of Maguindanao PIO) COTABATO CITY - Officials of Maguindanao have appealed to all registered voters to come out and vote on the Sept. 17 plebiscite that would divide the province into Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte. Police said it has already established security plans to ensure that the political exercises would be peaceful and orderly. "It is best for the future of the province if you come out and vote, whether yes or no, it is your right to decide," Cyrus Torrena, Maguindanao provincial administrator, said in a radio interview Tuesday. Republic Act 11550, the law that seeks to split the province in two, was signed into law by then President Rodrigo Duterte on May 27, 2021. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution No. 10797 set the election period to commence Tuesday (Aug. 16) ahead of the referendum, including the start of the election gun ban. On Monday, Torrena met with members of the Maguindanao provincial council to appeal for their support for the ratification of the law. Representative Bai Dimple Mastura of Maguindanao's first district said the addition of a new province would be beneficial to all constituents since they will no longer travel the long road to reach the current provincial capitol in Buluan town. If ratified, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the towns of Datu Odin, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Talitay, North Upi, Northern Kabuntalan, Mother Kabuntalan, Parang, Buldon, Barira, Matanog and Datu Blah Sinsuat. Maguindanao del Sur shall be composed of the towns of Buluan, Ampatuan, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Shariff Aguak, Pagalungan, Sultan sa Barongis, South Upi, Talayan, Salipada Pendatun, Mamasapano, Datu Montawal, Paglat, Guindulungan, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Rajah Buayan, Anggal Midtimbang, Mangudadatu, Pandag, Datu Hofer, Datu Salibo, and Saydona Mustapha. During the referendum, the Maguindanao police, as Comelec deputies, will provide security detail for the transport of ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia. A joint security assistance desk will also be established for area control points and perimeter security in polling centers. (PNA) }
COTABATO CITY - The candidacy of Sultan Kudarat gubernatorial aspirant Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu remains valid. On Friday, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which earlier canceled Mangudadatu's certificate of candidacy (COC) for allegedly failing to meet the one-year residency requirement. Copies of the TRO were shared with members of the local media Friday night. "Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu's candidacy remains valid, legal, and legitimate," Mangudadatu's lawyer, Cyrus Torrena, said in an interview Saturday. Datu Pax Ali is running to succeed his father, Governor Suharto Mangudadatu, and will be up against Sharifa Akeel, the wife of his uncle, Maguindanao Rep. Esmael Mangudadatu. Suharto and Esmael are cousins. Akeel and two others sought Mangudadatu's disqualification, claiming false material representation in his COC. They said the gubernatorial bet indicated he is a resident of Lutayan town at the time of filing of the COC in October 2021 while he was still the mayor of Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao. Mangudadatu countered that he already resigned as mayor and moved to Lutayan as early as May last year. The Supreme Court gave all parties a non-extendable 10-day period to comment on the TRO. Torrena said the TRO remains in effect until the Supreme Court issues a new decision. He noted that Mangudadatu's name is still on the official ballot and will not be deemed invalid or stray because of the TRO. The Comelec denied Mangudadatu's motion for reconsideration on the cancellation of his COC with a vote of 4-2 on May 2, upholding the decision of the 1st Division. Akeel and her counsel were unavailable for comment as of posting time. (PNA) }