63 of 67 NoCot villages want BARMM inclusion

FILE: Canvassing is ongoing at Pikit Central School, Pikit, North Cotabato. The ballot in the municipality of Pikit is the biggest in the February 6, 2019 #BangsamoroPlebiscite. (Photo: COMELEC/Facebook)

MANILA — A total of 63 barangays out of the 67 from seven towns in North Cotabato have voted to be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the second round of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite held last February 6.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), adjourned on Thursday the counting of the votes after it completed the canvassing of the eight Certificates of Canvass (COCs) from Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

“(These barangays) shall form part of the BARMM considering that they voted favorably for their inclusion in the BARMM and that the majority of the votes cast in the municipalities to which these barangays belong is in favor of their inclusion in the BARMM,” the NPBOC said.

The barangays are Dunguan and Tapodoc in Aleosan town; Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, and Tupig in Carmen; Buluan, Nanga-an, Pedtad, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Tamped in Kabacan.

Also joining the BARMM are Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan, Tugal, Tumbras in Midsayap; Lower Baguer, Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Datu Mantil, Kadingilan, Libungan Torreta, Matilac, Lower Pangangkalan, Upper Pangangkalan, Patot and Simsiman in Pigkawayan.

Forming part of the new Region are: Bagoinged, S. Balong, S. Balongis, Barungis, Batulawan, Bualan, Buliok, Bulol, Fort Pikit, Gli-Gli, Gokotan, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasendeg, Manaulanan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, Nunguan, Pamalian, Panicupan, and Rajamuda, all in Pikit town.

On the other hand, those who voted not to be included are Barangays Lower Mingading and Pagangan in Aleosan; Galician in Tulunan and Balatican in Pikit.

“Also, we proclaim that the following barangays in North Cotabato shall not form part of the BARMM considering that while they voted favorably for their inclusion, majority of the votes from the municipalities to which these barangays belong, is not in favor of their inclusion in the BARMM,” it added.

Meanwhile, the towns of Balo-i, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in Lanao del Norte also agreed to be included in the BARMM.

But, the other towns of Lanao del Norte voted against the inclusion of the six municipalities.

“The Commission on Elections, sitting en banc as the NPBOC, hereby proclaims that the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal, all of the province of Lanao del Norte, shall not form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” the NPBOC said.

“While the majority of votes cast in the following municipalities are in favor of the inclusion, the majority of votes cast in Lanao del Norte, however, is not in favor in the inclusion of the BARMM,” it added.

The NPBOC reconvened on February 7, a day after the holding of the second round of referendum.

The first round of the plebiscite, held on January 21, ratified the BOL that created the BARMM.