Two people including a minor opposing the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law were killed after they were waylaid by pro-BOL promoters in Shariff Saydona, one of the election hot spots in Maguindanao, hours before today’s plebiscite.
The incident occurred while some 5,000 unarmed members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front tried to enter different parts of Cotabato City at 8 a.m. Sunday before being persuaded by the military to turn back.
Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Joint Task Force Central suggested the MILF movement was aimed at bolstering pro-BOL supporters—or intimidating those against it.
To prevent any violence, troops were called up to confront the MILF members, who quickly withdrew.
“We appealed to them to [go] back to their points of origin. They were finally convinced [to do] a smooth withdrawal of their forces,” Sobejana said.
Sobejana could not identify the two anti-BOL people killed in the town of Libutan at about 11 a.m. Sunday.
The latest killings bring to four the victims of violence linked to the BOL plebiscite. Approval of the BOL would pave the way for the creation of a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that President Rodrigo Duterte has said would correct the historical injustices suffered by the Moros.
The first incident was recorded in Sultan Kudarat when armed suspects fired on civilians on their way home Friday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana outlined the worst-case scenario, saying that Jolo, Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan might not approve the BOL.
“The entire ARMM will vote yes while there is a small likelihood that Jolo would not. Outside the present ARMM, Cotabato City and Isabela in Basilan will also vote in the plebiscite and they might not join the BOL,” Lorenzana said.
He said if this happens, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao would have the same area as ARMM, with two cities in its midst “that don’t belong to it.”
“However, should these two cities decide not to join the BOL, I don’t expect any adverse development because the MILF leadership has pledged that they would respect the result of the plebiscite,” the Defense chief said.
Despite tension in some anti-BOL areas, Lorenzana predicted a peaceful plebiscite, even as additional troops were deployed in Cotabato City.
“I believe that the plebiscite wil proceed smoothly without any untoward incident. We have deployed additional troops in highly contested areas such as Cotabato City and Isabela, Basilan,” he said.
“Our troops [military and police] are working overtime policing, patrolling and monitoring threat groups such as the Dawla Islamic, BIFF and ASG and others,” he said.
READ: Pre-BOL vote violence: two killed
He considered the Abu Sayyaf Group under its chieftain Abu Dar as a threat to the BOL elections, but belittled its capability to conduct terror attacks.
“They have the potential but for them to disrupt the plebiscite is very unlikely,” he said. “There are no indications that they will sabotage the voting.”
Meanwhile, forces from the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), which opposes the BOL, were said to be deploying in Liguasan to monitor MILF movements to prevent any coercion of those against the BOL.
In an interview with radio dzBB, Bangsamoro Transition Authority chief minister Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim on Sunday said that all systems for Monday’s plebiscite were ready.
He added that the authorities have not monitored major threats to the scheduled plebiscite, except for some tensions in Cotabatao City, Lanao del Norte and a few other areas.
Some 20,000 soldiers and police provided security and beefed up checkpoints. A liquor ban was imposed across Mindanao Sunday.
Some 2.8-million voters are expected to take part in the Jan. 21 plebiscite of the BOL, which is part of a peace deal between the government and MILF in 2014.
A spokesman for the Commission on Elections said necessary arrangement have been made to ensure that polling places are safe.
READ: Last chance for Mindanao peace? BOL plebiscite seeks to end conflict