Voting in the Philippines on a proposal to expand a semi-autonomous region ruled by former Muslim separatist rebels appears to have passed off peacefully.
Thousands of troops were on alert in the volatile southern Philippines on Tuesday > There were no immediate reports of violence as Christians and Muslims trekked to the polls during the voting held in parts of the main southern island of Mindanao and nearby isles.
Most of the areas voting are dominated by Christians, who are likely to turn down the proposal to join the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
"We will send our message through two letters: NO," a woman voter told Reutersafter casting her vote in Zamboanga, an overwhelmingly Christian city of almost 700,000 people.
Officials said they expected residents in most of the 11 provinces and 14 cities where the plebiscite was being held to reject inclusion in the ARMM. These regions have rejected similar plans in the past but a fresh plebiscite is being held to meet demands from Muslim militants.