DAVAO CITY – Eight new towns from the 63 barangays of North Cotabato under the Special Geographic Area of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have been created following the plebiscite on April 13, the Commission on Elections reported over the weekend.

MINISTER of Parliament Akmad ‘Jack’ Abas casts his vote in the plebiscite in Barangay Rajahmuda, Pikit, North Cotabato, on April 13. (Office of MP Abas photo)

In a statement released to the media, the Comelec reported that 72,658 or 81.10 percent of the 89,594 registered voters voted “Yes” to ratify the eight new municipalities. On the other hand, 273 registered voters were not in favor of the establishment of the towns, it added.

Pursuant to Bangsamoro Autonomy Acts 41 to 48, and following their ratification, the eight towns carved out of North Cotabato will become municipalities under BARMM.

These are: Pahamuddin, with 12 barangays; Kadayangan (seven), Kapalawan (seven), Ligawasan (seven), Malidegao (seven), Nabalawag (seven), Old Kaabakan (seven), Pahamuddin (12), and Tugunan (nine).

Residents of 63 barangays in the towns of Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Tulunan voted for inclusion in the BARMM in the plebiscite to ratify the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2019.

The Comelec thanked the police and the military for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

“The peaceful and orderly conduct of the plebiscites would not have been successful without the invaluable cooperation of its partner-agencies, namely, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), with the full support of the local government units of the concerned municipalities,” the Comelec said.

Third party monitoring group Council for Climate and Conflict Action Asia (CCAA) noted the quiet and peaceful exercise in democracy during the plebiscite for local statehood.

In a press statement, the CCAA said this plebiscite was in sharp contrast to the bloody and violent elections of 2023.

The CCAA scattered Early Response Network (ERN) monitoring teams across the 63 barangays of SGA.

“The event today is indeed historical as this represents the aspirations of our people,” BARMM Member of Parliament Mohammad Kelie Antao said in the CCAA statement.

Antao, who hails from Libungan town, added that the existing Special Geographic Area Development Authority (SGADA) will act as the provincial unit of the eight municipalities while waiting for the creation of a province to be constituted by Congress.

“We hope that the SGADA will have the mandate to review the budget of the municipalities. But this will depend on our meeting, together with the Parliament,” he added.