Comelec OKs 20 petitions of LGUs for BOL plebiscite

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved on Friday 20 petitions of local government units (LGUs) for the inclusion in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite slated on January 21, 2019, and February 21, 2019.

READ: Comelec: Plebiscite for BOL set on Jan 21, Feb 6

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez released on Friday the list of LGUs that complied with all the requirements and rules, which established that their jurisdiction is adjacent to that of the LGUs enumerated in the BOL.

“The following petitioner-local government units have complied with all of the requirements under the law and the rules and have sufficiently established that its territory is contiguous to that of the local government units enumerated in the Bangsamoro Organic Law,” he wrote on Twitter last Friday.

The first batch of COMELEC en banc decisions on #BOL petitions has been released. 20 petitions have been granted (see images). 24 petitions have been denied, for failing to comply with the rules regarding voluntary inclusion in the #Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. pic.twitter.com/33ud5rPA29

— James Jimenez (@jabjimenez) January 4, 2019

Here are the 20 petitioners that were approved by the Comelec:

Barangay Libungan Torreta, Pigcawayan, Cotabato

Barangay Upper Pangankalan, Pigcawayan, Cotabato

Barangay Datu Mantil, Pigcawayan, Cotabato

Barangay Rajahmuda, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Barungis Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Gli-Gli-, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Nalapaan, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Panicupan, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Langogan, Carmen, Cotabato

Barangay Nunguan, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Manaulanan, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Bulol, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Pebpoloan, Carmen Cotabato

Barangay Kibayao, Carmen, Cotabato

Barangay Kitulaan, Carmen, Cotabato

Barangay Tupig, Carmen, Cotabato

Barangay, Pagangan, Aleosan, Cotabato

Barangay Bualan, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Nabundas, Pikit, Cotabato

Barangay Simsiman, Pigcawayan, Cotabato

However, Comelec said 24 other unnamed petitions were denied because they “failed to comply with the rules on voluntary inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”

The plebiscite is needed for the ratification of the BOL, which would create BARMM, replacing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

It was recalled that last July 27, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the BOL or Republic Act No. 11054, which allows self-rule and autonomy for the Muslim south. /jpv