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PCOO assists foreign media in BOL coverage

January 21, 2019, 6:34 pm

MANILA -- The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has been assisting foreign media in their coverage on the plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), its head said on Monday.

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said that his agency’s Office for Global Media Affairs is in charge of “transporting” them from Manila to Cotabato City using C130 planes from the Department of National Defense (DND).

“We are actually transporting lot of them from the international media from Manila all the way to Cotabato City at nakatutok doon iyong (and in charge is the) Office for Global Media Affairs,” Andanar said in an interview over DWFM.

Andanar said the Office for Global Media Affairs has been in Cotabato “from start to finish” and also provides escorts for them as they observe the ongoing elections.

“From start to finish ay nandoon po ang Office for Global Media Affairs ng PCOO para i-assist po iyong international media observers, ganoon din po iyong ating national media nandoon din po tayo para i-assist sila (the Office for Global Media Affairs of the PCOO is there to assist international media observers as well as national media),” Andanar said.

Meanwhile, Andanar expressed optimism that the landmark legislation would be ratified to bring long-lasting peace in Mindanao.

“We are very optimistic na kapag ito ay pumasa na at nanalo iyong ‘yes’ ay matapos na ang gulo diyan sa area ng Mindanao (that when this is passed, the conflict in Mindanao will end),” Andanar said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said that over a million voters are expected to troop to various polling precincts to participate in the plebiscite.

Earlier, Malacañang declared Jan. 21, 2019 a special non-working day in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Isabela City, and Cotabato City for the plebiscite of the BOL.

The BOL, considered one of the administration’s biggest legislative achievements, seeks to establish a new Bangsamoro political entity to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Duterte signed the BOL on July last year hoping to correct the historical injustices committed against the Moro people. (PNA)

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