By Gabriela Baron
The Commission on Election (Comelec) is expecting a high voter turnout in the Maguindanao plebiscite, its chairperson said Saturday, Sept 17.
“Palagay natin baka mas mahihigitan ‘yung ating projection na 60% voter turnout,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in a radio interview.
“Naging maagap at maaga rin ang pagboto ng mga kababayan natin… Ngayon po hopefully mas dumami ang bilang ng mga botanteng makakaboto po,” Garcia added.
The eight-hour plebiscite, which would determine if Maguindanao would be divided into two provinces, started at 7:00 a.m. Saturday.
There are 818,790 voters in Maguindanao for the plebiscite, according to Comelec data.
“Kahit mga 400,000 sana or 500,000 ang makaboto ay napakaganda po nun dahil una, makikita mo talaga ‘yung sentimyento ng mga kababayan natin,” Garcia said.
“Pero kahit sabihin man lang na di makakalahati o hindi ganun kadami ‘yung bumoto, it doesn’t really matter kasi po ang importante walang violence, walang terrorism.” –ag
