1989 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao creation plebiscite
November 17, 1989
Outcome
Results by locality
  Yes —   No

The 1989 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao creation plebiscite was a creation plebiscite held on November 17, 1989, in parts of Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

Background

Upon the installation of President Corazon Aquino following the 1986 People Power Revolution which deposed Ferdinand Marcos, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) held negotiations in with the Aquino administration in Jeddah. The MNLF pushed for the government for the outright establishment of an autonomous region in Mindanao as per the 1976 Tripoli Agreement through an executive order; a demand which the government did not accept.[1]

The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines adopted during Aquino's presidency allows for the creation of an autonomous region in "Muslim Mindanao".[2] Republic Act No. 6734 or the Organic Act which proposed for the creation of such region called the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was signed into law on August 1, 1989, by President Corazon Aquino[3][4] but had to be ratified through a plebiscite which was held on November 17, 1989.[2]

Both the MNLF, and its splinter group the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, boycotted the vote.[3]

Results

Rules

The plebiscite is conducted in a per province and per city basis.

Summary

Only four provinces namely Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi opted to be included in the newly formed ARMM.[1] The Muslim-majority province of Basilan and the city of Marawi in Lanao del Sur notably voted against its inclusion to the ARMM.[5] Elections for the first set of regional officials were held in February 1990.[1]

The following are the results per province and city.

Summary of results[6][7]
Locality For autonomy Against autonomy Turnout Registered
voters 		Included?
Total % Total % Total %
Basilan 20,924 36.57% 36,286 63.43% 57,210 55.40% 103,272 No
Cotabato 26,734 18.92% 114,568 81.08% 141,302 50.35% 280,624 No
Cotabato City 12,986 9.56% 122,851 90.44% 135,837 55.00% 246,979 No
Davao del Sur 46,892 37.95% 76,682 62.05% 123,574 70.31% 175,751 No
Dapitan 462 2.34% 19,307 97.66% 19,769 69.63% 28,392 No
Dipolog 845 3.40% 24,009 96.60% 24,854 62.87% 39,532 No
General Santos 8,223 19.67% 33,577 80.33% 41,800 40.37% 103,549 No
Iligan 2,044 3.19% 61,983 96.81% 64,027 59.05% 108,432 No
Lanao del Norte 46,892 37.95% 76,682 62.05% 123,574 70.31% 175,751 No
Lanao del Sur 125,338 74.08% 43,855 25.92% 169,193 71.37% 237,076 Yes
Maguindanao 76,717 62.68% 45,670 37.32% 122,387 45.70% 267,824 Yes
Marawi 10,399 46.01% 12,204 53.99% 22,603 56.13% 40,269 No
Pagadian 4,774 19.15% 20,149 80.85% 24,923 50.67% 49,188 No
Palawan 8,162 9.09% 81,617 90.91% 89,779 54.48% 164,789 No
Puerto Princesa 3,283 14.23% 19,796 85.77% 23,079 51.11% 45,155 No
South Cotabato 26,198 15.87% 138,841 84.13% 165,039 52.22% 316,043 No
Sultan Kudarat 5,601 7.33% 70,827 92.67% 76,428 49.76% 153,589 No
Sulu 99,911 73.92% 35,245 26.08% 135,156 57.96% 233,181 Yes
Tawi-Tawi 40,596 72.86% 15,125 27.14% 55,721 56.26% 99,039 Yes
Zamboanga del Norte 5,872 4.12% 136,766 95.88% 142,638 53.58% 266,191 No
Zamboanga del Sur 14,543 6.43% 211,782 93.57% 226,325 55.83% 405,392 No
Zamboanga City 5,299 5.55% 90,152 94.45% 95,451 53.77% 177,533 No
Turnout 1,968,900 54.69% 3,599,984 —

Of the 3.5 million registered voters, 55.31% turned out and voted. 72% of those who voted rejected autonomy. In Christian areas, autonomy was rejected in 40-to-1 margins.[6]

The new autonomous region was inaugurated on November 6, 1990.[3] The region would be expanded following a second plebiscite in 2001.

References

  1. ^ a b c Rivera, Temario C. (1996). State of the Nation: Philippines. Institute of Southeast Asian. pp. 39–40. ISBN 978-981-3055-34-6.
  2. ^ a b "Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao" (PDF). Department of Budget and Management. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Inquirer, Philippine Daily (January 26, 2014). "What Went Before: Peace talks with the MILF". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  4. ^ "Republic Act No. 6734". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  5. ^ McKenna, Thomas. "The Origins of the Muslim Separatist Movement in the Philippines". Asia Society. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Organization woes bug autonomy". news.google.com. November 25, 1989. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  7. ^ "ANGAY-ANGAY LANG: Kalinaw Mindanaw: The Story of the GRP-MNLF Peace Process, 1975-1996 (12)". www.mindanews.com. November 19, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2023.

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