Elections were held in the newly-created Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. The candidate favored by President Aquino, Zacaria Candao (formerly the legal representative for the MNLF), was elected to the governorship of Muslim Mindanao. In November 1989, a referendum was held in 13 provinces and nine cities in Mindanao on proposed legislation envisaging autonomy for these areas, with direct elections to a unicameral legislature in each province. This plan is in contrast with the MNLF’s demand for autonomy in 23 provinces, to be granted without a referendum. The MNLF appealed, with limited success, to the Muslim population (about 28% of the inhabitants of the region) to abstain from participating in the referendum. The Christian population (about 66% of the regional population) was largely opposed to autonomy. Only four provinces, a non-contiguous amalgamation (Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi and Sulu) voted in favor of the autonomy plan and formed the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao. (Disclaimer: Incident occurred within the month of February in 1990)