Early poll results of Jan. 21 BOL plebiscite shows overwhelming “yes” votes

(Eagle News) – Early results of the January 21 Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite in the five provinces comprising the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as well as the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, showed overwhelming “yes” votes for the BOL.

In ARMM, initial figures from the Commission on Elections’ Plebiscite Center showed that 1,340,043 voters who voted “Yes” to BOL, while only 192,502 voted “No” as of 1:30 p.m. counting on Tuesday, January 22.

In Basilan, the “Yes” votes were 123,694, while the “No” votes were 5,342. In Lanao del Sur, the “Yes” votes also dominated at 503,626, compared to the “No” votes of 9,816. In Maguindanao, there were 433,273 “Yes” votes, while there were only 15,990 “No” votes. Tawi-Tawi, likewise, had more “Yes” votes at 143,443 compared to the 9,419 “No” votes.

Of the ARMM provinces, it was only in Sulu, that there were more “No” votes at 151,935 compared to the “Yes” votes of 136,007.

In Isabela City, in Basilan, the yes votes for BOL were 19,114 which were less than the “No” votes of 22,375.

But in Cotabato City, there were more voters who were for the BOL and who wanted to include the City in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) even though its mayor, Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, was very vocal against it. Cotabato City voters who voted “yes” to BOL were 38,186 compared to the “No” votes numbering 26,822.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez has earlier said that he expects the results of the January 21 plebiscite to be completed in four days.