President Gloria Arroyo, in the Southern Philippines ahead of a crucial plebiscite, urged voters on Monday to give Muslim self-rule a chance amid strong opposition from Christian areas. Let us resolve to forge unity out of our diversity, to make ourselves complete and united despite differences in faith and culture, Arroyo said in a speech to local officials during a brief visit. Let us help turn the ARMM plebiscite into a day of reconciliation and brotherhood for Philippine Muslims and Christians. An enlarged Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) territory would give Manila a carrot to convince Islamic separatists to sign a peace deal and end 30 years of civil war, officials say.
A total of 4.9 million Filipinos from 15 provinces and four cities in the south as well in the western island of Palawan are eligible to vote on Tuesday on whether they want their city or province to join the four-province ARMM.
However, most of the region of 17.6 million people is wary of joining a political entity populated by 2.2 million people who make up the poorest region in the Philippines.
Eligible voters of the autonomous area will also cast allots on whether they want an expanded autonomous region.
But the initiative faces formidable odds.
Local officials in the mainly Christian provinces are campaigning for a massive no vote.
We do not want to experience the hardship of our Muslim brothers in the ARMM, said north Cotabato provincial governor Emmanuel Pinol.
Bureau Report