Plebiscite on creation of 8 BARMM towns set today

MANILA, Philippines — Residents of 63 barangays in the special geographic area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are set to vote today in a plebisicite for the creation of eight towns.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said 89,594 registered voters are expected to participate in the plebiscite.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said elementary schools in each of the 63 barangays would serve as voting centers.

”If there is no school in that particular barangay, the (elementary) school nearest or the one located in the nearest barangay will be used,” Laudiangco said.

 The plebiscite will ratify the creation of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Kaabacan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Ligawasan and Tugunan out of the 63 barangays.

The BARMM parliament approved the creation of the towns in August last year.

The barangays, which used to be part of North Cotabato, voted to be part of BARMM during a plebiscite in February 2019.