1977 Southern Philippines autonomy plebiscite


The 1977 Southern Philippines autonomy plebiscite was a plebiscite to create an autonomous region held on April 17, 1977 in parts of Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines.

Background

The Philippine national government and the Moro National Liberation Front signed the Tripoli Agreement which was brokered by Libya under Muammar Gaddafi on December 23, 1976 where it was agreed that an autonomous region in the southern Philippines would be created. The Philippine government insisted for a plebiscite to be held.
Originally scheduled to be held on February 21, 1977, the plebiscite was delayed to March 17 of the same year. The vote was postponed again to April 17, 1977.
The delay in the implementation caused tensions between the two parties. As a compromise, Gaddafi, the special envoy and First Lady Imelda Marcos came up with a proposal for the Philippine government to proclaim an autonomous region with a provisional government. On March 25, 1977, a provisional autonomous region known as Southern Philippines covering the areas under the scope of the then-planned plebiscite was declared.
The Moro National Liberation Front urged for a boycott of the plebiscite. But voting was still held.
Participants of the plebiscite voted in favor of autonomy for Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao while a proposal to merge the regions into one autonomous region was rejected.

Scope

The plebiscite covered the following areas:
Southern Tagalog – Region IV
Western Mindanao – Region IX
Southern Mindanao – Region XI
Central Mindanao – Region XII

Results

Davao del Sur, Palawan and South Cotabato rejected inclusion to the Regional Autonomous Government.

Of there being two autonomous regions

A yes vote meant there should be just one autonomous region, while a no vote meant the existing regional setup should then determine how many autonomous regions there should be.

On confirming the creation of Tawi-Tawi

Voters in Tawi-Tawi voted to confirm the creation of their province from Sulu.

On confirming the division of Cotabato province

Voters in Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat voted to confirm the division of the old province of Cotabato.

On confirming the conversion of City of Basilan to a province

Voters in Basilan approved to confirm the conversion of their province from a city.

Aftermath

Two Regional Autonomous Governments in Western Mindanao and Central Mindanao were established which the MNLF protested since they prefer a single autonomous region. Furthermore voters from outside these regions rejected the inclusion of their localities to these autonomous areas.