CAMP DARAPANAN, SULTAN KUDARAT – THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) yesterday said it wants a new province to have jurisdiction over the eight newly-created municipalities that formerly comprised its special geographic area (SGA),
In a press conference here inside the headquarters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), BARMM chief minister Ahod Ebrahim said they will work for the establishment of the new province to be composed of the eight new municipalities currently under North Cotabato.
“After this (plebiscite), we shall be appointing the OIC (officer-in-charge) mayors in the eight municipalities. Then, we will work out with the parliament for the creation of the new province for the eight new municipalities,” said Ebrahim.
He said they want to process the creation of a new province as soon as possible because they want to hold the election of a complete set of local government officials during the May 2025 national and local polls.
“We are hoping that before October, all the processes shall be completed so that we can ensure that those in the eight municipalities will be able to fully participate in the 2025 elections… that they have their own municipalities and own province,” said Ebrahim.
The statement comes two days after the Comelec successfully held a plebiscite in the SGA, which saw an overall voter turnout of 81.10 percent.
The plebiscite led to the creation of the municipalities of Pahamuddin (with 12 barangays), Kadayangan (7 barangays), Nabalawag (7 barangays), Old Kaabakan (7 barangays), Kapalawan (7 barangays), Malidegao (7 barangays), Tugunan (9 barangays), and Ligawasan (7 barangays).
Sought for comment, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia said he believes there is enough time to hold another plebiscite to create the new province before the October 2024 filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).
“It (October) is still a long way. The Comelec can still hold a plebiscite for the creation of a new province,” said Garcia.
He, however, stressed that it is not entirely up to the poll body if a new province will be created.
