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Hostage Island to Join Muslim Autonomous Region in Philippines
MANILA, Aug 16 (IslamOnline) - Two southern Philippines cities, including the infamous Basilan Island, known as "Hostage Island" and home to the Abu Sayyaf group, this week voted to join the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Despite the fact that the plebiscite is heading for a huge defeat in Mindanao, the Muslim majority areas of Tipo Tipo, Tuburan, Sumisip and Lantawan, Marawi city and Cotabato City, may also have voted to join the ARMM.
The two southern cities of Marawi and Cotabato are on the main southern island of Mindanao. Basilan is in Sulu province and is a sister island to Jolo Island, where no indication was given on results from the vote.
According to Phillipine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the vote is a sensational development that could help her prevent the staging of an independent Muslim country in Mindanao.
An official of the government in Basilan, however, has questioned the "yes" vote for extended Muslim self-rule in Mindanao.
Former Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Alvin Dans is set to file a petition to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to question the results of the plebiscite in at least four towns in Basilan.
He said residents on the island are also questioning the "yes" vote, saying they were confused over the expanded ARMM vote held Tuesday.
In a speech to religious groups, Arroyo said Basilan Island, and surrounding islands, had voted to join a four-province Muslim autonomous area in the plebiscite.
She confirmed that Marawi and Cotabato City might have also chosen to join the ARMM.
Jose Joson, assistant director for operations of Comelec, whom conducted the plebiscite, said initial results showed about 70% of votes cast in Basilan favored joining the ARMM.
The two Basilan municipalities with Christian majorities - Isabela City and Lamitan town - reportedly voted against joining the Muslim autonomous area, while the Muslim-majority areas voted for it.
The electorate of 10 other provinces and 12 cities overwhelmingly rejected the plebiscite, in which the government offered to hand over nearly 23% of Philippine territory to Muslims.
Most of these areas have large Christian majorities who fear being put under Muslim rule.
Basilan has been the scene of an intense military operation for over two months after Abu Sayyaf guerrillas kidnapped three Americans and 17 Filipinos from an up-market resort in May and hid them in the island's forests.
They are also believed to have beheaded one of the Americans, Californian Guillermo Sobero, although his body has not yet been found.
Early results of Tuesday's plebiscite showed an "overwhelming" rejection of the proposed expansion of the ARMM.
"We have to live by the results of the plebiscite. It's the people's voice," Arroyo was quoted by her spokesperson, Rigoberto Tiglao, as saying.
In Cotabato City, a Catholic priest who campaigned against the inclusion of the city in the autonomous region yesterday said he "smelled something fishy" in the balloting.
"There appears to be a deliberate move by unseen hands to [change] the outcome of the plebiscite," Fr. Jose Colin Bagaforo said.
Mayor Muslimin Sema favors the inclusion of Cotabato City in the ARMM, and its designation as the permanent seat of power, as strongly suggested by the President during her visit here Monday.
Arroyo was hoping that the vote would be "yes", forcing the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end its campaign and work with the government under the ARMM framework.
But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said Tuesday's vote proved that "autonomy is not really working as a solution" to the sectarian conflict.
"It is a blessing in disguise on the part of the MILF and those who wanted to pursue the real cause of the Bangsamoro people [Filipino Muslims]," he said on local television.
The 12,500-member MILF signed a ceasefire with the government last week, but has stressed that it was not yet dropping its original bid to set up a separate Islamic state for the marginalized Muslim minority.
The MILF welcomed the "No" vote saying that it was evident Muslims did not participate in the plebiscite since the majority of the Bangsamoro people are for the institution of an independent state in Mindanao.
The MILF boycotted the plebiscite for expanding ARMM coverage.
The ARMM was set up in 1989 to help convince the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), led by Nur Misuari, to sit at the negotiating table.
In 1996, Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila and was later elected ARMM governor.
The ARMM covers about four percent of the country's territory, but contributes just 0.9% of national economic output. Nearly 70% of its 2.2 million residents live below the poverty line.
With additional reporting by Kazi Mahmood
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