Bangsamoro plebiscite: Voters to answer up to 12 questions

MANILA, Philippines — Some voters who will participate in the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) may have to answer up to 12 questions.

Under Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10425 issued on Sept. 26, voters in areas being considered for inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will have to answer different sets of questions.

There will be two questions for voters in Basilan, one of which is if they are in favor of the inclusion of Isabela City in the BARMM.

In Midsayap, North Cotobato, voters will have to answer up to 12 questions.

Voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be asked only if they are in favor of the approval of Republic Act 11054 or the BOL.

Voters in other areas will have to answer two to 10 questions.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said this explains the various sizes of the ballots to be used in the plebiscite. 

Jimenez said the poll body would conduct a simulation of the plebiscite to give them an idea how things will be.

“It’s not a simple yes or no.  We need to simulate to see how usable those ballots are,” he said. 

The plebiscite is set on Jan. 21 next year.

The plebiscite period is from Dec. 7 to Feb. 5 while the campaign period is from Dec. 7 to Jan. 19.

Aside from Maguindanao, Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi, which compose the ARMM, six towns in Lanao del Norte – Balo-i, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal – and 39 barangays in  Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Picgawayan and Pikit in North Cotabato will comprise the proposed BARMM.