DAVAO CITY —The recently concluded plebiscite in the Special Geographic Area under the jurisdiction of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) unfolded with remarkable peace and order, said Major General Alex S. Rillera, Commander of the 6th Infantry (Kampilan) Division and Joint Task Force Central.
Following the plebiscite, Major General Rillera reported no untoward incidents across the polling precincts, except for isolated cases of voters encountering difficulties in locating their names on the voter list posted outside the precincts.
Personal visits by Maj. Gen. Rillera to several plebiscite areas on Saturday, April 13, 2024, revealed the collaborative efforts of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and military forces in ensuring the security of voters through strategic deployment in polling precincts and checkpoints.
“We express our gratitude first and foremost to the cooperation of the citizens in SGA-BARMM for their participation in the plebiscite and their orderly, peaceful adherence to our Comelec guidelines. We also extend our appreciation to our soldiers, police personnel, and other government security forces for their vigilant efforts in ensuring security,” said Maj. Gen. Rillera.
According to the report from Comelec, 72,631 individuals voted “YES,” representing a voter turnout of 81.07 percent while 297 voted “NO” across 63 Barangays.
The Municipal Plebiscite Board of Canvassers promptly proclaimed the victory of “Yes” in the 63 Barangays of SGA BARMM following the counting and canvassing of votes.
“Indeed, it was an impressive result that underscores the commitment of the communities in SGA-BARMM to democratic processes and the peaceful advancement of their region,” Maj. Gen. Rillera commented. “This marks not only a historic moment but also a significant milestone for the BARMM Government as it progresses towards a more peaceful and orderly election in the region.”
