Military says BOL plebiscite ”overall peaceful and successful”

February 6, 2019

Save for a fist fight and the arrest of a man carrying a homemade gun, the military said the second plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) was ''overall peaceful and successful.''

Capt. Clint Antipala, spokesman of the 1st Infantry Division, said despite the improvised bomb explosions in Lanao del Norte on Tuesday, there were no untoward incidents seen during the plebiscite.

“Based on the statement of the 2nd Mechanized Brigade civil military operations officer, (it was)peaceful, overall peaceful and successful. There is a minor incident or isolated incident. There was a fist fight but it was immediately addressed by the security forces,” he said.

Antipala said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is investigating explosions in Lala and Kauswagan towns last Tuesday.

He said police have not determined if the explosions have any relation to the BOL plebiscite.

Major Arvin Encinas, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division, said the poll in the Cotabato area was generally peaceful despite the arrest of an individual for violating the election gun ban.

“Generally peaceful, that is the only incident that we have monitored as of this time,” he said.

Encinas identified the arrested person as Mokamad Sawan Kutok, 32, a resident of Sitio Bakyawan, Brgy. Dunguan, Aleosan, Cotabato.

He said the suspect was arrested for carrying a homemade caliber .38 revolver with nine live ammunition at the polling precinct in Sitio Bakyawan.

“Further said person is a member of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) / Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) under Hadji Bayan Abdulrahman of 108th Based Command,” said Encinas.

He said the arrested person was placed under the PNP custody. Robina Asido/DMS