Bangsamoro Autonomous Region Territorial Limits

The results and final votes of the BOL are already done and with this the results will identify whose region are in favor and against it. Few weeks ago when the COMELEC starts counting the votes of the region who are in favor of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite.

There are 10 regions that are voted in this Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite but 3 of these regions will not be included in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. 54% of City of Isabela voted NO while the rest of Basilan Voted YES is 94%. The 4 Barangays of Cotabato voted NO but the mother TOWNS said YES. Finally who are not included to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is the Lanao Del Norte that the 6 towns are voted YES 87% but the rest voted NO is about 67% of Lanao Del Norte. While there are 7 who are be part of the core territory of Bangsamoro.

Core Territory of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

1. Basilan – Voted Yes (96%)
2. Cotabato – 63 Barangays voted Yes as well as the mother towns said YES
3. Cotabato City – Voted Yes (59%)
4. Lanao Del Sur – Voted Yes (98%)
5. Maguindanao – Voted Yes (96%)
6. Sulu – Voted No (54%)
7. Tawi-Tawi – Voted Yes (94%)

The rest of Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat still remains part of Region XII (SOCSKSARGEN).

Sulu, although voted NO in the plebiscite, will still be part of the Bangsamoro region. The enabling law stated that the original ARMM provinces (i.e., Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Basilan (except Isabela City), Maguindanao, and Lanao del Sur) only have to approve the creation of this new region as a whole for it to be constituted. If the plurality of the residents in these provinces approves the plebiscite, then those 5 provinces are deemed to be part of Bangsamoro, even if whole provinces reject the plebiscite.

After the official turnover of ARMM to the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region tomorrow, ARMM will be deemed dissolved and officially succeeded by Bangsamoro AR. Sultan Kudarat, the municipality near Cotabato City, is part of Bangsamoro. Sultan Kudarat, the province, did not take part in the referendum and thus won’t join it (besides it has a Christian majority)

We will not forget, if federalism will be pass and then Marawi City is the capital of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.