THE government is now a step closer toward finally realizing the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following the announcements of all the areas it will cover.
The Commission on Elections en banc, sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), on Thursday completed its canvassing of the results of the second part of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite held on February 6.
The second plebiscite was held in North Cotabato and in Lanao del Norte.
During its session on Thursday, the NPBOC said 63 of the 67 plebiscite-participating barangays from North Cotabato were declared to be joining BARMM after meeting the “double majority” requirement.
Under the double majority, the participating area and its mother region must both vote in favor of joining the BARMM. The said barangays came from the North Cotabato municipalities of Midsayap, Pigkawayan, Kabacan, Carmen, Pikit and Aleosan.
They are Dunguan, Aleosan; Tapodoc, Aleosan; Kibayao, Carmen; Kitulaan, Carmen; Langogan, Carmen; Manarapan, Carmen; Nasapian, Carmen; Pebpoloan, Carmen; Tupig, Carmen; Butuan, Kabacan; Nanga-an, Kabacan; Pedtad, Kabacan; Sanggadong, Kabacan; Simbuhay, Kabacan; Simone, Kabacan; Tamped, Kabacan; Damatulan, Midsayap; Kadigasan, Midsayap; Kadingilan, Midsayap; Kapinpilan, Midsayap; Kudarangan, Midsayap; Central Labas, Midsayap; Malingao, Midsayap; Mudseng, Midsayap; Nabalawag, Midsayap; Olandang, Midsayap; Sambulawan, Midsayap; Tugal, Midsayap; Tumbras, Midsayap; Lower Baguer, Pigkawayan; Balacayon, Pigkawayan; Buricain, Pigkawayan; Datu Binasing, Pigkawayan; Datu Mantil, Pigkawayan; Kadingilan, Pigkawayan; Libungan Torreta, Pigkawayan; Matilac, Pigkawayan; Lower Pangangkalan, Pigkawayan; Upper Pangangkalan Pigkawayan; Patot, Pigkawayan; Simsiman, Pigkawayan; Bagoinged, Pikit; S.Balong, Pikit; S. Balongis, Pikit; Barungis, Pikit; Batulawan, Pikit; Bualan, Pikit; Buliok, Pikit; Bulol, Pikit; Fort Pikit, Pikit; Gli-gli, Pikit; Gli-Gli, Pikit; Gokotan, Pikit; Kabasalan, Pikit; Lagunde, Pikit; Macabual, Pikit; Macasendeg, Pikit; Manaulanan, Pikit; Nabundas, Pikit; Nalapaan, Pikit; Nunguan, Pikit; Pamalian, Pikit; Panicupan, Pikit; and Rajamuda, Pikit.
“[These barangays] shall form part of the BARMM considering that they voted favorably of 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,” said the NPBOC resolution read by Commissioner Sheriff M. Abas.
The 63 barangays will join the provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and Cotabato City to form the BARMM.
The four North Cotabato barangays that failed to meet the double majority requirement are Lower Mingading, Aleosan; Pagangan, Aleosan; and Galidad, Tulunan; and Balitican, Pikit.
Also not to be included are the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte: Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal.
“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 of the inclusion in the BARMM,” the NPBOC said.
The NPBOC completed the canvassing within six working days from February 6.
Jose Lorena Omar Sema in the Bangsamoro Transition Council, who was among the observers of the completion of the BOL plebiscite canvassing, welcomed the peaceful resolution of the activity.
“This will be carried into the history of the Bangsamoro people. On that note, we would like to thank everyone for making this plebiscite a journey for peace and, perhaps, for prosperity,” Sema said.