THE twin plebiscites in Marawi City held by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) last Saturday registered very high voter turnout of above 95 percent.
In a statement released late Sunday, the Comelec reported a 99.17 percent voter turnout in Barangay Sagonsongan and a 95.76 percent voter turnout in Barangay Boganga.
“In Brgy. Sagonsongan, 476 out of its 480 registered voters trooped to Bito Elementary School to produce a 99.17% turnout,” said the Comelec.
“In Brgy. Boganga, 950 out of its 992 registered voters went to Kilala Elementary School to yield a 95.76% turnout,” it added.
Last Saturday, in Barangay Sagonsongan, 99.37 percent or 473 voted “yes” to ratify the creation of Barangay Datu Dalidigan, while 00.63 percent or only 3 voted “no.”
In Barangay Boganga, 99.79 percent or 948 voted “yes” to ratify the creation of Barangay Boganga II while 00.21 percent or only 2 voting “no.”
According to Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco, the high voter turnout can be attributed to the eagerness of the residents, particularly internally displaced persons, to have their own community.
“It is with the barangay constituents themselves. They are eager to uplift their status from being former evacuees or internally displaced persons to actual residents and constituents of their very own barangays,” he said.
“They want their own barangays that they could identify with, and independently manage their affairs,” added Laudiangco.
He said the high voter turnout will help pave the way for continuous services being provided to those displaced by the 2017 Marawi siege.
“The overwhelmingly high voter turnout represents a decisive victory for the survivors of the Marawi Siege, most of whom were internally displaced persons, who will be residents and constituents of Barangays Boganga II and Datu Dalidigan from this day forward,” he said.
He also expressed hope that those who will be elected as officials of the two new barangays will ensure their constituencies are served well.
“The newly formed local government units are mandated to assure their general welfare, chart their future, and forge their continuing recovery from the devastating violence they faced in 2017,” said Laudiangco.
The Marawi siege started on May 23, 2017 and ended on October 23, 2017.
Around 350,000 people were internally displaced during the acknowledged longest urban battle in the modern history of the Philippines.
