Palace says Supreme Court should decide legitimacy of plebiscite

Malacanang said yesterday it would let the Supreme Court (SC) decide on the legality of the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) amid accusations of harassment and intimidation.
“That’s why I said yesterday they can always file appropriate charges regarding their claims. But remember that there is still a pending petition before the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the BOL? If the Supreme Court decides it’s unconstitutional, then all of it becomes moot and academic. The plebiscite would be invalidated,” Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing.
Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani Sayadi has said her legal team was preparing for the filing of a petition before the high court to nullify the plebiscite. The mayor claimed that government and military officials conspired with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to ensure that the “yes” vote would win.
“On the other hand, I’m sure the petitioners will argue that since there has been a ratification by the people then that cured the unconstitutionality. It depends on the Supreme Court,” she added.
Sayadi said her camp had documented the violence, threats and intimidation that transpired within and outside of polling places during the casting of votes in Cotabato City for its inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on January 21.
She also showed documents that would prove her claims that government and military officials, who were supposed to protect the integrity of the plebiscite, allegedly conspired with the MILF to ensure the victory of the BOL.
“They are all fully documented and we will present them at the proper forum at the proper time,” Sayadi said.