Plebiscite for Bangsamoro region set Jan. 21, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to hold the plebiscite for the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on Jan. 21 in areas in Mindanao that are being considered for inclusion.

Based on a memorandum signed by Comelec deputy executive director for operations Bartolome Sinocruz Jr., the poll body has set the date of the plebiscite on the third Monday of January next year.

“During the Comelec en banc meeting held on Aug. 29, it was resolved that the date of the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) shall be on Jan. 21, 2019,” Sinocruz said.

According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, the plebiscite period runs from Dec. 7, 2018 to Feb. 5, 2019.

Jimenez added the campaign period will be from Dec. 7, 2018 to Jan. 19, 2019.

“The public is further reminded that special registration activities in the Bangsamoro Core Territories will be conducted from Sept. 11 to 13, 2018,” Jimenez said.

He gave assurance the preparation and conduct of the plebiscite will not affect the May 2019 midterm polls.

“Note that the elections will be happening just after many of the major preparations for 2019 have been completed, around December, and just before the projected start of the campaign,” he said.

Jimenez said the timing of the plebiscite is “actually good” even if there will be midterm elections four months later.

Being eyed for inclusion are the current provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Also being eyed for inclusion are 39 barangays in North Cotabato, six municipalities in Lanao del Norte and the cities of Cotabato in Maguindanao and Isabela in Basilan. – With  John Unson, Michael Punongbayan