The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will include 63 barangays in Cotabato, following a double majority yes votes in these areas and their respective towns during the Feb. 6 plebiscite.
The Commission on Elections, sitting as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers, announced on Thursday the results of the referendum in seven towns in Cotabato and Lanao del Norte.
The 63 Cotabato barangays are located in the towns of Aleosan (Dunguan, Tapodoc); Carmen (Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Manarapan, Nasapian, Pebpoloan, Tupig); Kabacan (Butuan, Nanga-an, Pedtad, Sanggadong, Simbuhay, Simone, Tamped).
Midsayap (Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan, Tugal, Tumbras).
Pigkawayan (Lower Baguer, Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Datu Mantil, Kadingilan, Libungan Torreta, Matilac, Lower Pangangkalan, Upper Pangangkalan, Patot, Simsiman) and Pikit (Bago-inged, S. Balong, S. Balongis, Barungis, Batulawan, Bualan, Buliok, Bulol, Fort Pikit, Gli-gli, Gokotan, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual, Macasen-deg, Manaulanan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, Nunguan, Pamali-an, Panicupan and Rajamuda).
“[These barangays] shall form part of the BARMM, considering that they voted favorably for their 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,” the canvassing board said.
Lanao del Norte votes no
The towns of Balo-i, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal in Lanao del Norte also all agreed to be included in the BARMM.
But all the other towns in the province voted against the inclusion of the six towns.
“While the majority of votes cast in the [six] municipalities are in favor of the inclusion, the majority of votes cast in Lanao del Norte is not in favor of … inclusion [in] the BARMM,” the board said.
The Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in the Jan. 21 plebiscite. In the same referendum, Cotabato City decided to join the BARMM.