The Commission on Election (Comelec) on Friday announced the final list of 28 “contiguous” areas, which it allowed to participate in the in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite.
In a press conference, Comelec spokesperson James B. Jimenez said the Comelec en banc has approved the petitions of eight more barangays from North Cotabato to join the plebiscite.
These include Pamalian; Fort Pikit; Pedtad; Buluan; Simone; Tamped; Tumbras; and Galidan.
Last week, the poll body already approved similar petitions from 20 barangays in the province of Cotobato.
These are barangays Libungan Torreta, Upper Pangankalan, Datu Mantil, and Simsiman in Pigcawayan; Barangay Pagangan in Aleosan; and Barangays Langogan, Pebpoloan, Kibayao, Kotulaan, and Tupig in Carmen.
Others are barangays Rajahmuda, Barungis, Gli-gli, Nalapaan, Palicupan, Nunguan, Manaulanan, Bulol, Bualan, and Nabundas, in Pikit.
“Out of 103 petitions we received, only 28 remained…These are the areas, which will have plebiscite on Feb. 6,” Jimenez said.
He said the other petitioners were disapproved for not being “contiguous” to the “core” areas of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and failure to meet the requirements.
“Some places that petitioned did not submit any of the requirements at all. Essentially they just expressed their intent to join [the plebiscite],” Jimenez said.
The Comelec will also be holding a plebiscite on Jan. 21 covering the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), as well as Isabela City in Basilan, and Cotabato City.
The result of the two-part plebiscite will determine the ratification of the BOL, which will lead to the creation of the BARMM to replace ARMM.
Currently, Jimenez said they expect to continue holding the plebiscite on schedule despite the bombing incident in Cotobato City two weeks ago, which killed two people.
“The situation [in Mindanao] remains peaceful with the exemption to the recent events in Cotobato,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez said they are regularly coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the security in the area.
He said the Comelec en banc has yet to decide if it will place the area under Comelec control.