20 Cotabato barangays included in BOL plebiscite

FILE: Sunset over New Cotabato City Hall (Photo: George Parrilla/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday announced that 20 barangays in the province of Cotabato will be part of the forthcoming plebiscite for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“The first batch of Comelec en banc decisions on BOL (Bangsamoro Organic Law) petitions has been released, and 20 petitions have been granted,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.

The following will be included in the scheduled plebiscite: barangays Libungan Torreta, Upper Pangankalan, Datu Mantil, and Simsiman in Pigcawayan town; Barangay Pagangan in Aleosan town; and barangays Langogan, Pebpoloan, Kibayao, Kotulaan, and Tupig in Carmen town; Barangays Rajahmuda, Barungis, Gli-gli, Nalapaan, Palicupan, Nunguan, Manaulanan, Bulol, Bualan, and Nabundas, all in Pikit town.

Jimenez said the Commission en banc has approved the petitions of the said barangays for voluntary inclusion in the referendum for ratification of the BOL.

Meanwhile, 24 petitions have been denied for failing to comply with the rules regarding voluntary inclusion in the plebiscite.

A total of 103 petitions for voluntary inclusion have been filed before the poll body.

The Comelec had said that the areas contiguous to any of the Bangsamoro core areas may apply for voluntary inclusion in the plebiscite, by either the local government of such an area filing a resolution; or at least 10 percent of the registered voters in a local government unit filing a petition and ask for inclusion in the plebiscite.

If approved, the Bangsamoro plebiscite in such areas that sought voluntary inclusion will be held on February 6.

The first scheduled plebiscite is set on January 21, in geographical areas comprising Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) including Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.