MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday said it respects the decision of Palaweños to reject the proposed split of Palawan into three provinces.

“Iyan ay desisyon ng mga taga-Palawan (That is the decision of Palawan residents). And we respect the sovereign decision made by the people of Palawan,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online press briefing.

Palawan will remain as one province after 172,304 Palaweños opposed the ratification of Republic Act (RA) 11259, a law which seeks to divide Palawan into three different provinces namely: Palawan Oriental, Palawan del Sur, and Palawan del Norte.

The Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) proclaimed Tuesday that “no” votes prevailed in the March 13 plebiscite.

The “no” votes edged out the 122,223 “yes” votes by 50,081 votes.

Only 22 of the 23 municipalities’ certificates of votes have been canvassed, since it has been decided to terminate canvass of the certificate of votes from the municipality of Kalayaan islands in view of the insurmountable lead enjoyed by the “no” votes.

Around 920 police personnel have secured registered voters and election officials in 487 polling centers in 367 villages of the 23 towns across mainland Palawan and its surrounding island municipalities.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported Wednesday that the recently-concluded plebiscite in Palawan was generally peaceful despite some difficulties in the transport of election paraphernalia.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed RA 11259 on April 5, 2019. (PNA)