[Business Mirror] Amid fear of violence, Philippine election and security officials gave assurances everything is set for the historic plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), with 2.1 million voters in Mindanao deciding whether it will be ratified or not. Over the weekend, around 20,000 policemen and soldiers were deployed in Mindanao.Residents of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City will head to polling centers on Monday — the first of a two-part process — for the ratification of the BOL.
Tension ran high in Cotabato City, where many factors have been vocal in opposing inclusion in the expanded autonomous region to be known as BARMM, for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Cotabato City is one of two cities included in the areas of plebiscite despite being excluded from the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
As concern built up in the city, the rest of the plebiscite areas seemed headed for one of the most peaceful political exercises in contrast to previously bloody political showdowns.