Comelec: Low voter turnout in Bulacan village plebiscite

MANILA, Philippines — A low voter turnout was observed during the plebiscite held yesterday in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan to ratify the division of Barangay Muzon into four barangays, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia.

“Nandito kami. Pakonti-konti lang dumadating,” Garcia said, referring to voters, when asked for an initial assessment of the plebiscite.

He said a voter turnout of less than 20 percent was expected.

As of 5 p.m. yesterday, partial and unofficial results showed that there were 9,520 who voted yes and 682 who voted no. The figures represent 21.49 percent and 1.53 percent, respectively, of the votes cast.

The Comelec said there are 43,771 registered voters in Barangay Muzon.

“As long as walang violence, walang threat, walang intimidation, walang failure of elections. Ibig sabihin kahit mas mataas ang bumoto o maliit ang bumoto as long as ang plurality o nakakuha ng mataas na boto ang yes o ang no, yun ang i-po-proklama ng Comelec,” Garcia said.

The plebiscite will ratify the division of Barangay Muzon into Barangays Muzon Proper, Muzon East, Muzon West and Muzon South.

Garcia said no untoward incidents were reported. He said the plebiscite was orderly with the assistance of other concerned government agencies as well as local government and barangay officials.

An adequate number of security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety of voters, he added.

The plebiscite for the division of Barangay Muzon into four barangays is the second held in Bulacan after the conversion of the municipality of Baliwag into a component city in December.

Garcia said the Comelec would also hold plebiscites to ratify the renaming of a barangay in Rizal and conversion of Carmona town in Cavite into a component city.