28 N. Cotabato villages get nod for BOL plebiscite

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday approved the petitions of 28 North Cotabato barangays for inclusion in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite scheduled next month.

Comelec Spokesman James Jimenez announced that eight more LGUs were added to the initial 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.

Below is the list of 28 petitioners out of 103 that were approved by the Comelec for inclusion in the BOL plebiscite on Feb. 6:

Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan, North Cotabato
Barangay Kibayao, Carmen, North Cotabato
Barangay Kitulaan, Carmen, North Cotabato
Barangay Langogan, Carmen, North Cotabato
Barangay Pebpoloan, Carmen, North Cotabato
Barangay Tupig, Carmen, North Cotabato
Barangay Buluan, Kabacan, North Cotabato
Barangay Pedtad, Kabacan, North Cotabato
Barangay Simone, Kabacan, North Cotabato
Barangay Tamped, Kabacan, North Cotabato
Barangay Tumbras, Midsayap, North Cotabato
Barangay Datu Mantil, Pigkawayan, North Cotabato
Barangay Libungan Torreta, Pigkawayan, North Cotabato
Barangay Upper Pangangkalan, Pigkawayan, North Cotabato
Barangay Simsiman, Pigkawayan, North Cotabato
Barangay Barungis, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Bualan, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Bulol, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Fort Pikit, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Gli-Gli, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Manaulanan, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Nabundas, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Nalapaan, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Nunguan, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Pamalian, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Panicupan, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Rajahmuda, Pikit, North Cotabato
Barangay Galidan, Tulunan, North Cotabato

Jimenez said that the January 21 plebiscite will be for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City in Baselan and Cotabato City.

The Comelec initially approved 20 petitions of LGUs for the inclusion in the BOL plebiscite.

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