Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado condemns ARMM Governor Nur Misuari for his repeated warnings that the MNLF will return to the use of armed force if a plebiscite scheduled for this year is not postponed until 2003. Currently, the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao consists of four provinces. The plebiscite is to determine if the residents of the special zone of Peace and Development (ZOPAD), which covers 14 provinces and 9 cities in the south, want to join the ARMM. Misuari contends that due to a lack of development funds he has not had enough time to convince the population to support an expanded autonomous region. The Netherlands recently provided $1 million for a project that will examine the results of development in the south (BusinessWorld, 08/13/98).