Gov concedes defeat in plebiscite to divide Palawan

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY –– Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez, along with other key pro-split proponents from the provincial government, on Monday afternoon, formally accepted defeat in last Saturday’s plebiscite on Republic Act 11259, which had sought to divide Palawan into three provinces.

Expressing surprise at the outcome, Alvarez admitted during a press conference “disappointment” over what he claimed was a missed opportunity to improve governance in the island province.

The press conference was held hours before the Provincial Board of Canvassers was to convene for the final tabulation of the vote counts at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

“Taumbayan ang nagpasya, hindi kami, nagsalita na sila tanggap na natin ‘yan,” Alvarez said.

(The people have decided, not us, they have spoken and we accept.)

Vice Gov. Dennis Socrates pointed out that their holding of the press conference was meant to formally “concede” defeat.

Earlier, the PBOC decided to move the final canvassing of votes later in the day. Completed returns already received by the PBOC indicated a decisive outcome for the “No” vote, with an estimated margin of between 40,000 to 45,000 votes.

As of Monday, the partial unofficial tally from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting showed the No vote dominating the plebiscite result, with 168,895 against the split and 121,327 for the division.

Alvarez said the rejection of RA 11259 was not a personal loss to him but a missed opportunity for Palawan.

“We did not lose anything. Only the Palaweños lost. No bitterness, we are always here,” Alvarez said.

Socrates admitted he did not expect the “No” vote to prevail over the division initiative.

“I was shocked by the result. I’ve already lost a lot in past elections and whenever I lose, I always think of Abraham Lincoln’s line: I’m too old to cry but I’m too sad to laugh,” he said.

Board Member Leoncio Ola also said that after the debacle, he would not support any other plan to revive the initiative.

“Assuming na mayroong member ng Sanggunian na mag-file ng resolusyon na hatiin ang Palawan ay isa na ako sa mag-oppose dahil sayang ang aming effort. Tingin ko sa amin ay wala nang magpa-file ng ganitong panukala,” Ola said.

(Assuming that one of the members of the Board files a resolution dividing Palawan, I’d be among those to oppose that because our efforts were wasted. I think none of us would file a motion like that anymore.)

LZB