Comelec: ‘Yes’ votes win first round of BOL referendum
Credit to Author: kadraneda| Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2019 12:18:53 +0000
MANILA, Philippines – The Commission Elections (Comelec) on Friday proclaimed victory for “yes” votes to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the January 21 referendum.
In the finally tally, Comelec, sitting as National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers (NPBOC), said 1,540,017 voted in favor of BOL while 198,750 voted against the decree that would establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
The January 21 BOL referendum was held in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Isabela City in Basilan, and Cotabato City. BARMM would replace ARMM.
There are five provinces that participated in the region of ARMM, namely: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi.
However, residents of Basilan had a different set of questions for the BOL compared to the four other areas in ARMM.
For Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, they answered the question: Payag ba kayo na pagtibayin ang Batas Republika Blg.11054 na kilala din bilang “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao?”
The province of Basilan, meanwhile, will have to answer two questions namely: Payag ba kayo na pagtibayin ang Batas Republika Blg. 11054 na kilala din bilang “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao?” and Payag ba kayo na isama ang lungsod Isabela, Basilan sa Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Bangsamoro?
The second question for the residents of Basilan tallied a score of 144,640 votes yes for Basilan and Isabela City to be included in the BARMM.
Only 8,487 said that they don’t want the two provinces to be included in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Despite the favorable turnout, only the Cotabato City would be included in the BARMM given the “double majority” rule under the BOL proposal.
Cotabato City voted for inclusion in the BARMM with 36,682 ‘Yes’ votes the 24,994 dissenting votes.
Isabela City, meanwhile, opposed its inclusion in the new region with 22,441 ‘Yes’ votes against 19,032 ‘No’ votes.
Another BOL plebiscite would be held on February 6, this time for residents of Lanao del Norte (except Iligan City) and six municipalities in North Cotabato. /kga, gsg