‘No’ vote wins in Lanao Norte plebiscite

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte - The six contested towns in this province will remain under its jurisdiction after the “no” vote won the February 6 Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite.

During Thursday’s final canvassing, results showed that the six towns that vied for inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao voted “yes” but all other towns in the province voted against it

The provincial office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that the province’s 22 towns have a total registered voters of 352,518, but only 242,667 actually cast their ballots.

The results are as follows: Balo-i

“Yes” to inclusion: 8,553

“No” to inclusion: 3,038 vs.

All other towns on Balo-i’s inclusion:

“Yes” to inclusion: 73,164

“No” to inclusion: 154,553

Munai

“Yes” to inclusion: 10,765

“No” to inclusion: 4 vs.

All other towns on Munai’s inclusion:

“Yes” to inclusion: 71,148

“No” to inclusion: 158,025

Nunungan

“Yes” to inclusion: 1,802 “No” to inclusion: 1,004 vs.

All other towns on Nunungan’s inclusion:

“Yes” to inclusion: 79,935 “No” to inclusion: 156,630

Pantar

“Yes” to inclusion: 7,840 “No” to inclusion: 256 vs.

All other towns on Pantar’s inclusion:

“Yes” to inclusion: 73,992 “No” to inclusion: 150,705

Tagoloan

“Yes” to inclusion: 2,760 “No” to inclusion: 1,373 vs.

All other towns in Tagoloan’s inclusion:

“Yes” to inclusion: 78,849 “No” to inclusion: 156,605

Tangkal

“Yes” to inclusion: 6,276 “No” to inclusion: 0 vs.

All other towns on Tangkal’s inclusion:

“Yes” to inclusion: 75,364 “No” to inclusion: 157,417

Comelec Provincial Election Supervisor Joseph Hamilton Cuevas said they will transmit the results to the national headquarters for an official declaration.

“This is so far the safest and peaceful plebiscite ever happened,”

Cuevas said.

Lanao del Norte governor Imelda Dimaporo said that she hopes that the results will be respected.

Dimaporo reiterated that she and her husband, first district Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo, and son Khalid Dimaporo, the first district representative, supported the BOL but only opposed on the inclusion of the six towns to the BARMM.

“I do pray that the new BARMM will be a sucess and they will have peace,” she said.

Maigo town Mayor Rafael Rizalda, who campaigned for the inclusion of the six towns into the BARMM, said he respects the plebiscite results even if his own constituents voted “no”.