28 barangays in final list of areas for BOL plebiscite: Comelec

FILE: BOL PLEBISCITE. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez reveals the list of barangays to be included in the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in a press conference on Friday (Jan. 11, 2019). (PNA photo by Ferdinand Patinio)

MANILA — Eight more barangays in North Cotabato will join the plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), bringing the total number of barangays included in the electoral process to 28.

According to Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, the poll body en banc has approved the petitions of the barangays for voluntary inclusion in the referendum for ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

“Recently, we announced that we already approved 20 inclusions in the plebiscite areas. Ito na ‘yung final list nginclusions natin (This is the final list of inclusions), we (came out) with 28,” Jimenez said in a press briefing Friday.

The newly-approved barangays to be included in the referendum are Pamalian, and Fort Pikit in Pikit; Pedtad, Buluan, Simone and Tamped in Kabacan; Tumbras in Midsayap and Galidan in Tulunan.

The initial 20 barangays that were included in the scheduled plebiscite are Libungan Torreta, Upper Pangankalan, Datu Mantil, and Simsiman in Pigcawayan; Barangay Pagangan in Aleosan; and Barangays Langogan, Pebpoloan, Kibayao, Kotulaan, and Tupig in Carmen.

Also, Barangays Rajahmuda, Barungis, Gli-gli, Nalapaan, Palicupan, Nunguan, Manaulanan, Bulol, Bualan, and Nabundas, all in Pikit.

With this, Jimenez reported that the only 28 out of the 103 petitions were approved by the Commission en banc.

“Merong mga hindi na include (There are those who were not included) because of considerations. Well, first of all, whether or not they are actually contiguous.

In other cases, they just absolutely had no contiguous border with existing territories so those had to be denied,” Jimenez added.

The Comelec had said that the areas contiguous to any of the Bangsamoro core areas may ask 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 set on January 21 will be held in geographical areas comprising Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) including Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City.