Shariff Kabunsuan creation plebiscite, 2006

The Shariff Kabunsuan creation plebiscite was a plebiscite on the creation of the Province of Shariff Kabunsuan in the Philippines. The plebiscite was conducted on October 28, 2006^[1] and results were announced on October 31, 2006.

The proposed province — named after Shariff Mohammed Kabungsuwan, an Arab-Malay Islamic preacher who introduced Islam to central Mindanao in the 16th century,^[2] — was established under Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201 which was signed into law by ARMM Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan on September 7, 2006.^[3] MMAA 201 provided for the creation of a new province comprising the nine municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Upi, all of the first legislative district of the province of Maguindanao.^[3] A tenth municipality, Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, was created within the proposed province on September 16, 2006,^[4] weeks prior to the actual plebiscite for the creation of the province.

Maguindanao Governor Datu Andal Ampatuan Sr. originally pushed for the creation of the new province to "decentralize governance and maximize development in poor Muslim communities, most of which have been areas of armed conflict for decades."^[5] He and his son ARMM Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, campaigned for the creation of Shariff Kabunsuan to better extend government services to residents, particularly those in the "precipitous" parts of the area.^[6]

Referendum question

The Shariff Kabunsuan creation plebiscite was supervised and officiated by the COMELEC pursuant to Resolution No. 7727.^[7]

The question of the said plebiscite was:

DO YOU APPROVE OF THE CREATION OF THE PROVINCE OF SHARIFF KABUNSUAN, INTO A DISTINCT AND INDEPENDENT PROVINCE COMPRISING THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BARIRA, BULDON, DATU ODIN SINSUAT, KABUNTALAN, MATANOG, PARANG, SULTAN KUDARAT, SULTAN MASTURA, UPI AND DATU BLAH T. SINSUAT IN THE PROVINCE OF MAGUINDANAO, PURSUANT TO MMA ACT NO. 201?^[7]

Results

Option	Votes
In favor for creation	285,372[5]
Against the creation	8,802[5]

The following municipalities seceded from Maguindanao and formed the new province. All of them were from the first legislative district of Maguindanao.

Barira Buldon Datu Blah T. Sinsuat Datu Odin Sinsuat Kabuntalan

Matanog Parang Sultan Kudarat Sultan Mastura Upi

Datu Odin Sinsuat was designated the capital of the new province, per Section 1 of MMA Act 201.^[3]

The province was the first to be created under Republic Act No. 9054 or the Expanded ARMM law.^[1]

Notes

1. "Did you know that… ARMM now has Six Provinces". Philippine Statistics Authority. March 26, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
2. Unson, John (29 October 2006). "Maguindanao split decided in plebiscite". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
3. Regional Legislative Assembly - Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (September 6, 2006). "Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201 - An Act Creating the Province of Shariff Kabunsuan, Providing Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes" (PDF). Retrieved August 9, 2016.
4. "Did you know that… Maguindanao is the Seat Of Muslim Mindanao". Philippine Statistics Authority. November 9, 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
5. "Voters approve new Mindanao province". Philippine Information Agency. November 1, 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
6. "Maguindanaons vote 'yes' to new province formation". Archived from the original on February 23, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
7. "COMELEC Resolution No. 7727 - Rules and Regulations governing the conduct of the October 28, 2006 plebiscite to ratify the creation of the Province of Shariff Kabunsuan comprising the municipalities of Barira, Buldon, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Parang, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, Upi and Datu Blah T. Sinsuat in the Province of Maguindanao, pursuant to Muslim Mindanao Autonomy Act No. 201, dated August 28, 2006." (PDF). Commission on Elections. October 10, 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2006.