MANILA – Majority of those who participated in the first day of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite on Monday overwhelmingly voted in favor of the law’s ratification.
In an unofficial tally from Marawi City on Tuesday morning, 58,688 voted in favor of BOL’s ratification, while 112 voted against it. The voter turnout in the city is at 93 percent.
In Lanao del Sur, the vote in favor of creating a new Muslim autonomous region is also leading by a huge margin as of Monday evening.
In Maguindanao, majority overwhelmingly voted to be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
In Cotabato City, one of the most hotly contested areas, only 7,918 have voted for the ratification, while 10,737 were against it. The canvassing of votes is still ongoing as of press time.
Five provinces and two cities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cotabato City, and Isabela City in Basilan took part in the first Bangsamoro referendum on Monday.
A second plebiscite for Lanao del Norte excluding Iligan City, North Cotabato, and the 28 areas which petitioned for inclusion into the new Bangsamoro region is scheduled on Feb. 6.
After the canvassing in the local level, the certificates of canvass will be brought to the provincial board of canvassers up to the regional level, then the final canvassing in Manila./PN
