SECURITY forces assured Tuesday, February 5, that all security measures for the second plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) have been prepared.
The second plebiscite will be done Wednesday, February 6, in North Cotabato and Lanao del Norte. The first round was held last January 21 in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Maguindanao, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and Isabela City.
Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde arrived in North Cotabato on Tuesday, February 5, to check security preparations in some of the polling centers. He is scheduled to stay there to oversee and ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the BOL plebiscite.
Over 10,000 police and military personnel were deployed in the towns of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in Lanao del Norte; and 39 barangays in the towns of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan and Pikit in North Cotabato where the second plebiscite will be held.
Captain Clint Antipala, spokesperson of the 1st Infantry Division based in the area, said they have not monitored any threat.
He said they are expecting a peaceful plebiscite.
Major Arvin Encinas, 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said they used the first plebiscite to further boost the security preparations for the second round.
“Right after nung isinagawang plebisito dito sa Cotabato City, ‘yung probinsya ng Maguindanao, nagkaroon kami rito ng after plebiscite review na kung san ni-review natin ‘yung mga gaps and other issues, ‘yung mga problema na nakita natin kung kayat ‘yun ang dapat nating i-address, ‘yung sistema kung papano mai-cast ‘yung mga boto nitong mga dadalo sa plebisito,” he said.
During the first plebiscite, several teachers who are supposed to serve as election officers failed to arrive in polling centers due to intimidation from pro- and anti-BOL groups, resulting in delays in the voting.
Encinas said they are not letting their guards down despite receiving no threat against the plebiscite.
In an interview, Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez said security remains to be the “main concern” in the second plebiscite.
"Security is really the main concern. There's a lot of worry that the situation in Jolo will spill over to Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato... We're hopeful that the elections will go off without a hitch," Jimenez said.
Jimenez was referring to members of the Abu Sayyaf Group who are behind the two suicide bombing incidents in Jolo, Sulu on January 27 that resulted in the killing of 23 people and wounding of 95 others.
The bombings happened at least a week after the ratification of the BOL. Majority of the residents in Sulu voted against it.
The BOL seeks to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)