SHOW OF SUPPORT. Thousands of people gather at the compound of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City to support the ratification of the law creating a new Bangsamoro region. PHOTO COURTESY OF OPAPP
MANILA, Philippines — The military has deployed 10,000 of its forces to help secure the upcoming plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
“We already have troops on the ground, about 10,000 troops ‘yung andun and meron kaming tinatawag na follow on forces if in case kailangan. Pero sa ngayon sufficient naman ‘yung tropa na andun,” Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. told reporters Tuesday on the sidelines of New Year’s call at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
The plebiscite on January 21 and February 6 will allow voters to decide on the ratification of BOL, which seeks to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Commission on Elections said it expects around 2.8 million voters to participate in the plebiscite. /kga