Registration teams sent to Bangsamoro areas

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be deploying teams to intensify voter registration activities in areas proposed to be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region from Sept. 4 to 6.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Saturday this is part of the preparations that they have been doing for the conduct of plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which provides for the establishment of the region. 

“The special registration teams will be fielded to conduct special registration operations, in addition to the satellite registration activities already being carried out,” he noted.

This means that the ongoing voter registration in affected provinces will be intensified until Sept. 29, the Comelec official said.

Based on the proposed Bangramoro Autonomous Region, being eyed for inclusion are the current provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

Also eyed for inclusion in the new region are 39 barangays in North Cotabato, six municipalities in Lanao del Norte and the cities of Cotabato in Maguindanao and Isabela in Basilan.

Jimenez added that the plebiscite for the new region is set early in January next year.