Cotabato City (outlined in red). —Image from Google Maps
ISABELA CITY — Contrary to reports, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) did not declare any election hotpots in Sulu and Basilan, lawyer Rey Sumalipao, regional election director, said on Sunday.
He said the focus instead for Monday’s plebisicte on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) would be on Cotabato City due to New Year’s Eve bombing of a mall that killed two people and injured 34 others.
Rohaida Dia, election officer of Isabela City, earlier announced that 10 barangays in this city were among areas of concern because of the presence of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) under Commander Bayali Abugao.
But Sumalipao said: “There’s no area [in Isabela City] that was declared under Comelec control. Only Cotabato City.”
In Basilan, provincial election supervisor Muammar Guyo said all was set and ready for the BOL plebiscite.
“[There are] no problems seen,” he said. “We are just sorting all election materials to be distributed later at 2 a.m. to teachers.”
No area in Basilan has been declared as hotspot.
A total of 261,185 registered voters are expected to cast their votes in 835 clustered precincts. /atm