THE “YES” vote took an early and overwhelming lead in the unofficial count for the plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) granting greater autonomy to Muslim Mindanao.

But the vote is close in the province of Sulu and the city of Isabela in Basilan, whose leaders are staunchly opposed to the law, based on the results from a monitoring team of the military, police and the Commission on Elections (Comelec).