COTABATO CITY, Philippines — There is no mechanism to expand the territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, officials said Tuesday in response to reports that the issue is being used in the election campaign.
Ratified in plebiscites in January and February, the Bangsamoro Organic Law paved the way for the replacement of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by the BARMM.
BARMM officials said political camps that voted against the BOL have been spreading rumors that candidates who campaigned for ratification will work to expand the region's territory if elected.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM's local government minister, said Tuesday that there is no provision in the law that would allow the region to expand.
After the January plebiscite across the ARMM, Cotabato City and Isabela City, voting on February 6 resulted in at least 63 barangays in several towns in North Cotabato joining the BARMM.
"The BOL clearly says that the January 21 and February 6 plebiscites related to the Moro issue were the last, nothing more. Candidates are advised to focus on sensible campaign platforms and refrain from using scare tactics," Sinarimbo said of claims being made on social media.
Lawyers in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority that President Rodrigo Duterte appointed to oversee the transition from ARMM to BARMM said it is unfair to use the issue in the campaign.
Election lawyer Quirino Esguerra, counsel of many local executives in BARMM, said the BOL has no “opt-in” provision for local government units to join the BARMM.
"There is no such thing in the BOL," Esguerra said.
Another BTA member, a lawyer who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is absurd to make the rumor a campaign issue since there is no legal basis for it.
"It is nothing but sort of a comedy movie, fictional and baseless," the source said.