20 North Cotabato villages to join BOL plebiscite

MANILA, Philippines — At least 20 barangays in North Cotabato will participate in the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced yesterday.

“The first batch of Comelec decisions on BOL petitions have been released... 20 petitions have been granted,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said yesterday.

Approved were the petitions of residents of Barangays Libungan Torreta, Upper Pangankalan, Datu Mantil and Simsiman in Pigcawayan; Pagangan in Aleosan; Langogan, Pebpoloan, Kibayao, Kotulaan and Tupig in Carmen, and Rajahmuda, Barungis, Gli-gli, Nalapaan, Palicupan, Nunguan, Manaulanan, Bulol, Bualan, and Nabundas in Pikit.

The plebiscite will be held on Jan. 21 in the said areas as well as in the provinces that compose the ARMM, Isabela town in Basilan and Cotabato City.

Jimenez said 24 other petitions to participate in the plebiscite were rejected for not complying with the rules on voluntary inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) .

He said the Comelec received a total of 103 petitions for inclusion in the BARMM.

A plebiscite will also be conducted in 103 areas contiguous to the BARMM on Feb. 6.