MANILA - Nearly all the 80.84 percent of Maguindanao's registered voters agreed to ratify a law seeking to divide the province into two during a plebiscite held on Saturday. In a statement on Sunday, Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the figure was based on official plebiscite municipal canvass of votes. Laudiangco said the Maguindanao split plebiscite's 80.84 percent voter turnout was second to the record set in 1998 referendum that created Compostela Valley from Davao Del Norte at 89.73 percent. "As it stands, this Maguindanao plebiscite will have the second highest voter turnout for province-wide plebiscites," he said. He, however, said in terms of total number of registered voters and total number of voters who actually voted at 712,857 out of 881,790, "this is the most participated-in plebiscite, province/city/municipality wide." He said 707,651 or 99.27 percent voted 'yes' while only 5,206 or 0.73 percent r
FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT. Lawyer Cyrus Torrena, Maguindanao provincial administrator, speaks before members of Maguindanao Sangguniang Panlalawigan Monday (Aug. 15, 2022) to solicit their support on the ratification of Republic Act 11550 dividing Maguindanao into Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. The creation of the new provinces aims to deliver faster and more efficient services to the people. (Photo courtesy of Maguindanao PIO) COTABATO CITY - Officials of Maguindanao have appealed to all registered voters to come out and vote on the Sept. 17 plebiscite that would divide the province into Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte. Police said it has already established security plans to ensure that the political exercises would be peaceful and orderly. "It is best for the future of the province if you come out and vote, whether yes or no, it is your right to decide," Cyrus Torrena, Maguindanao provincial administrator, said in a radio interview Tuesday. Re
Two of the PAF's brand-new A-29B "Super Tucano" attack aircraft (Photo courtesy of PAF) MANILA-The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Tuesday said its aircraft, including two of its brand-new A-29B "Super Tucano" attack planes, have flown persuasion flights over various parts of Mindanao as part of their efforts to secure the May 9 national and local elections from lawless elements. "It's more of a reminder that somebody is securing the air space and is ready to help at a short notice," PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano said in a message to the Philippine News Agency. He added that aircraft from the PAF's Tactical Operations Wing Western Mindanao and Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 12 facilitated the flight missions of the UH-1H "Huey" and S-70i "Black Hawk" helicopters, and the A-29B "Super Tucano" attack aircraft. "The PAF air assets conducted persuasion flights in the AOR (area of operations) of JTF (Joint T