THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday said everything is ready for the holding of the plebiscite on the law splitting the province of Maguindanao into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
The referendum is set on Saturday, September 17.
In a press conference, Elections Commissioner Aimee Ferolino said: “We (would) just like to announce that we are now ready for the plebiscite that will be conducted in Maguindanao.”
Ferolino is the designated commissioner-in-charge for plebiscites.
She said all plebiscite supplies and paraphernalia, including the official ballots, are already in Maguindanao.
Similarly, she said the poll personnel who will serve in the plebiscite have already completed their mandatory training.
“Everything and everybody participating in this plebiscite are ready,” said Ferolino.
A total of 818,790 registered voters are set to vote in the plebiscite to be held in 5,390 polling precincts located in 501 voting centers.
The voters will come from a total of 545 barangays in 36 municipalities in Maguindanao.
The Comelec said 5,718 members and chairpersons of the 1,906 plebiscite committees will be manning the poll exercise.
Two police personnel shall also be assigned in each voting center and shall be complimented by 2,961 military men.
The forthcoming plebiscite aims to settle the question on whether the voters agree or disagree to divide Maguindanao into two provinces, as provided by Republic Act No. 11550.
According to Comelec – Deputy Executive Director for Operations Teopisto Elnas, the ballots will include an Arabic translation of the questions.
“The question is written in Tagalog and also has Arabic translation because this is required under the Omnibus Election Code for this area,” said Elnas.
“It will be answered ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or its equivalent,” he added.
As to the security situation in Maguindanao, Ferolino said members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) have not monitored any concerns. “The AFP and the PNP are on top of the situation,” she said.
