In the Know: Bangsamoro territory

A young Muslim girl flashes the peace sign in support of the passage of a law giving autonomy to minority Muslims, during a rally near Malacañang on Wednesday, to coincide with the handing over of the draft of the Bangsamoro Basic Law in a ceremony at the presidential palace. Under the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, the proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro autonomous region will include the present geographical area of the ARMM. AFP

MANILA, Philippines–The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Under the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, the proposed core territory of the Bangsamoro autonomous region will include the present geographical area of the ARMM.

Also covered by the proposed Bangsamoro territory are the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, as well as the six municipalities in Lanao del Norte province that voted to become part of the ARMM in a plebiscite in 2001. The six municipalities are Baloi, Munai, Pantar, Nunungan, Tagoloan and Tangcal.

Thirty-nine villages in six North Cotabato towns—Kabacan, Carmen, Aleosan, Pigkawayan, Pikit and Midsayap—that voted to join the ARMM in the 2001 plebiscite are also part of the Bangsamoro territory.

Bangsamoro will also include other contiguous areas where there is a resolution of the local government or a petition of at least 10 percent of the registered voters in the area asking for their inclusion at least two months prior to the conduct of the ratification of the basic law and the process of delimitation of the Bangsamoro.–Inquirer Research 

Sources: oppap.gov.ph, Inquirer Archives