MANILA, Philippines – Violence remains the “biggest concern” for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the conduct of the second round of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite, James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson admitted on Tuesday.
The second round of the BOL plebiscite will be conducted in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte on February 6.
“The biggest concern coming into the elections is that there will be a spillover of the violence from other parts of Mindanao to the plebiscite areas,” Jimenez said in a press briefing.
“However, according to the PNP (Philippine National Police), there are no increase in the number of hotspots in that area. So clearly they are not expecting any grave disruptions during the elections on February 6,” he added.
The second round of plebiscite will tackle if the possible inclusion of North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte in the newly established Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
There will be no ratification question as the BOL was already deemed ratified last January 25 after getting more than 1.5 million affirmative votes.
READ: Yes votes have it: Law creating Bangsamoro region ratified
The canvassing of votes for the February 6 plebiscite will be made at the Comelec’s headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on February 7, Thursday.
Jimenez said the session may immediately be adjourned as the Comelec is not expecting to receive any election paraphernalia from North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.
Around 639,361 registered voters are expected to participate in the second round of plebiscite. /muf