Gratitude, calls for unity after historic Bangsamoro plebiscite

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Endorsers of the Bangsamoro Organic Law on Tuesday lauded the Christian politicians whose constituents are seen to have voted for ratification of the measure at Monday's plebiscite.

Mohagher Iqbal, chief negotiator of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, said they are thankful to the leaders in Lamitan City and in Upi town in Maguindanao, where residents voted overwhelmingly in favor of the BOL.

Reports from the Commission on Elections and the local governments of Lamitan City and Upi indicated voter turnout of more than 90 percent in both areas during the plebiscite.

A total of 26,986 residents in Lamitan City voted for the BOL's ratification while only 5,083 others wrote "no" on their ballots. Mayor Ramon Piang said Tuesday 23,247 Upi residents voted for ratification of BOL.

He said only 3,288 of his constituents voted against the BOL.

The Commission on Elections en banc briefly convened on Tuesday to canvass ballots but promptly adjourned as none had yet reached Manila. They will reconvene on Wednesday.

"We are thankful to the Christian political leaders who favored the ratification of the BOL," Iqbal said in an informal press briefing here Tuesday.

He said the MILF is grateful to Lamitan City Mayor Rose Furigay and her spouse, Vice Mayor Roderick, for keeping their promise to secure an overwhelming vote for BOL from the communities under their jurisdiction.

Iqbal and Maguindanao Rep. Sandra Sema, who helped shepherd the BOL through the House of Representatives, separately allayed insinuations that non-Muslims would be persecuted under the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM.

The MILF will lead the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that will form the BARMM government until elections can be held in the new region.

"The plebiscite is over. What we need to do now is rebuild the bridges that once connected the anti-BOL and the pro-BOL sectors. The plebiscite was a vehicle for peace, not an exercise that can divide us forever," Sema said.

Sema’s husband, Datu Muslimin, former mayor of Cotabato City, said he was fascinated with how certain towns in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao did not even have a single negative vote for BOL.

Mohammad Adjul town in Basilan had 10,443 votes for BOL without any vote against.

Poll personnel in the municipality of Pandag in Maguindanao province listed 12,025 votes for BOL and a zero vote against it.

The mayor of Pandag, Zihan Mamalinta-Mangudadatu, was vocal in campaigning for the ratification of the BOL.

"It is not difficult to unite the Moro, Christian and Lumad people for one good cause — that of building a durable peace in this part of the country," Datu Muslimin, a senior leader in one of two groups in the Moro National Liberation Front, said.

Hataman: Time to look past plebiscite

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Gov. Mujiv Hataman meanwhile called on the public to shun divisiveness as the results of the plebiscite are tallied.

He appealed to local leaders and the people of ARMM to set aside tension from the plebiscite and sit down to discuss how to serve the constituents well regardless of how voting will turn out to have gone.

"I appeal to respect whatever the result and the decision of the people. Because if we want peace what is really needed is to respect the decision of the majority of the people."

"It's not about Christian or Muslim, I don’t want to bring the issue to such level of discussion," he said, adding the BOL should not be the cause of more divisiveness in the region.

Unofficial canvassing in Basilan suggests the BOL was ratified in 11 municipalities and Lamitan City although official tallies have yet to be released.

Isabela City, the former provincial capital, reportedly rejected BOL as majority of the people and its local leadership opted again to stay out from Bangsamoro region.

Isabela City Vice Mayor Cherrylyn Santos-Akbar, who opposed the inclusion of the city in the proposed Bangsamoro region also appealed for unity among her constituents and the people of Basilan.

"We respected those who voted for 'yes' and we respect as well those who voted for 'no' because I know we have the same aspiration, we want peace and development. We hope to be united again for the progress of our place," Akbar said.

Akbar also assuaged apprehensions that development of the city would be left behind by not being part of the BARMM.

She said the national government has been supporting Isabela City by providing development projects such as the P70-million gymnasium and P200-million wharf expansion for the city. — with Roel Pareño in Isabela City, Basilan