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Maguindanao plebiscite set September 17

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) set the plebiscite for the division of Maguindanao into two provinces on September 17.

Based on Resolution 10797, the Comelec said the referendum for the split of the province into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur will be held on September 17.

"The Commission on Elections hereby sets the date of the plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Maguindanao into two provinces, namely, Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur, on September 17, 2022," said the Comelec.

On Plebiscite Day, the casting of votes will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the counting to immediately take place after its closing.

The Municipal and Provincial Board of Canvassers is then set to convene and canvass the votes around 6 p.m. of the same day.

The poll body said the plebiscite period is set to run from August 16 to September 24.

During the plebiscite period, it will be prohibited to carry firearms and other deadly weapons, as well as maintain strike forces.

It will also be prohibited during the plebiscite period to suspend local elective officials, as well as transfer officials and employees in the civil service.

The campaign period will be from August 16 to September 15.

During the campaign period, there is expected to hold of barangay assemblies, fora, or "pulong pulongs."

A ban on public works construction, hiring and promoting employees, release of public funds, and removal and destruction of plebiscite propaganda materials will also be in effect during the campaign period.

Under Republic Act 11550, Maguindanao province is being divided into two: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

The division, however, requires the approval of the majority of the votes cast by the Maguindanao voters in a plebiscite to be conducted and supervised by the Comelec.

Back in the May 2022 elections, Maguindanao has a total of 939,011 registered voters. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1932986/manila/local-news/maguindanao-plebiscite-set-september-17

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Maguindanao plebiscite set September 17: Comelec

By Ferdinand Patinio

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set a plebiscite on September 17 to determine whether Maguindanao will be divided into two separate provinces.

Comelec Resolution No. 10797 dated June 22 and made public on Friday also set the activities prior to the holding of the plebiscite which will create Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

The issuance of the resolution was in accordance with Republic Act 11550 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in May last year, which provides for the division of the Mindanao province into two areas.

Aside from the plebiscite date, the Comelec also set the information and campaign period which will be from August 16 to September 15 including the holding of barangay assemblies, fora, or “pulong pulongs”.

The plebiscite period will also begin on August 16 and will run until September 24.

Among the prohibited activities during this period are alteration of the territory of a precinct or establishment of a new precinct; bearing, carrying or transporting firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park private vehicle or public conveyance, or even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized by the Commission; transfer or details of officers and employees in the civil service; organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces or similar forces; suspension of local elective officials and illegal release of prisoners.

On plebiscite day, the casting of votes will run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The prohibited acts are: campaigning; selling, furnishing, offering, buying, serving, or taking intoxicating liquors, etc.; giving and/or giving free transportation, food, drinks and things of value; carrying of deadly weapon in the polling place; voting more than once or in substitution of another; soliciting votes or undertaking any propaganda for or against a “Yes” or a “No” vote within the polling place or within 30 meters thereof; opening of booths or stalls for the sale, etc…of wares, merchandise of refreshments, within 30 meters radius from the polling place and holding of fairs, cockfighting, boxing, horse races or similar sports.

The counting of votes will be from 3 p.m. onwards until finished.

“Convening of the Municipal/Provincial Board of Canvassers (MPBOC/PPBOC) not later than 6 o’clock in the evening, and Canvassing of votes and proclamation of plebiscite results (From 6 p.m. until finished),” the Comelec said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177480

Referendum set to split Maguindanao province

By Edwin Fernandez

The Maguindanao provincial government has set aside PHP100 million to fund the September 17 plebiscite to split the province into two.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has earlier set the referendum following the ratification of Republic Act (R.A) 11550, which mandates the creation of two provinces upon approval by the majority of the votes cast by the voters in 36 municipalities of Maguindanao.

“The people will decide through the plebiscite whether to ratify or not the law creating Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte,” said lawyer Cyrus Torreña, the provincial administrator.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law on May 27, 2021, but the Comelec decided to delay the referendum last year to give more time to prepare for the May 2022 national and local elections.

Under the law, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the towns of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay.

Its seat of government will be Datu Odin Sinsuat town.

On the other hand, Maguindanao del Sur will be composed of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi.

Its seat of government will be Buluan.

If the law is ratified, reelected Governor Bai Mariam Mangudadatu will act as governor of Maguindanao del Sur while Maguindanao vice governor-elect Bai Ainee Sinsuat will be named as governor of Maguindanao del Norte.

Torreña said the division of Maguindanao has many benefits particularly to Maguindanaons in far-flung areas.

“More infrastructure development will come and more basic services could reach the constituents,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1177453

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Voter registration set July 4 to 23

Voter registration will resume from July 4 to 23 as part of preparations for the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in December, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

In a Viber message, Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco told journalists that the poll body approved a resolution setting the schedule for the resumption of voter registration.

Laudiangco said the registration is for both the regular and SK poll voters.

He said the period set for voter registration is in compliance with Republic Act 8189 or the Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, which prohibits the conduct of the registration within 120 days before election day.

The barangay and SK elections will be conducted on Dec. 5, which means scheduling the registration on Aug. 7 is not allowed, Laudiangco said.

“We have only from July 24 to Aug. 6 to post or publish the names of voter registration applicants, set election registration board hearings, subject registrants to database verification, conduct ERB hearings, draft and approve precincts, and cluster established precincts when necessary,” Laudiangco said.

“There are post-registration activities and requirements that need to be accomplished on time aside from the inclusion or exclusion petitions, which will be filed, heard and decided,” he added.

Aside from the resumption of the registration, Laudiangco said the Comelec en banc approved a plebiscite for the ratification of the division of Maguindanao into two provinces – Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur – on Sept. 17.

Vote-buying

Meanwhile, a vote buying complaint against a representative, mayor and vice mayor of Biñan, Laguna as well as 80 others was filed yesterday before the Comelec.

Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat, Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr. and Vice Mayor Angelo Alonte were among the respondents in a complaint filed by Michael Gerard Thomas Yatco, Audrey Amoroso and Christopher Santos.

The complainants said they have at least 33 witnesses, video footage and photos to support their claims.

They said several residents informed Yatco about their experiences on vote buying and other election-related offenses allegedly committed by the respondents.

Yatco ran but lost in the congressional race.

The complainants said some of their witnesses received money in separate activities led by barangay leaders on May 6, 7 and 8.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2022/06/24/2190458/voter-registration-set-july-4-23

50,000 TO 100,000 LECHONS, SPECIAL HOLIDAY FOR LENI INAUGURAL

More than 50,000 lechon (roasted whole pig) and more than 100,000 lechon manok (roasted whole chicken) will be served to the public at the Luneta by Brother Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai DWXI Prayer Partners Fellowship International as part of the celebration on June 30, Inauguration Day for the 17th President of the Republic of the Philippines Leni Robredo.

June 30 has been declared a special non-working holiday by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, who said "it is fitting and proper that all citizens of our country be given the full opportunity to witness and welcome this historic event in the life of our nation."

The holiday will enable millions of office workers and students to attend the inaugural ceremonies at Barasoain and the Luneta.

Robredo will take her oath of office inside the Barasoain Church at exactly 12 noon, after which she will proceed to Malacanang to induct her cabinet and hold her first cabinet meeting at the palace.

She will be at the Luneta Grandstand at 4:00 p.m. where a grand parade will precede her inaugural speech, which he will deliver in Tagalog.

Nora Aunor will lead the singing of the national anthem "Lupang Hinirang" at the Luneta, while Brother Mike Velarde, servant-leader of the El Shaddai, will lead the invocation.

Friends and supporters of Robredo will foot most of the bill for the day's festivities, which are expected to be unlike any other presidential inaugural in the country's history.