(Eagle News) – Not one of the six towns in Lanao Del Norte which sought to be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) managed to get the required “double majority” votes to be included in the new autonomous region, according to the latest plebiscite results.
Lanao del Norte provincial election officer Atty. Joseph Cuevas made this announcement on Thursday, February 7, just a day after the historic second round of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in Mindanao.
-Provincial plebiscite board of canvassers thanks AFP, PNP, DepEd-
Cuevas also thanked and congratulated the military and police who helped secure the voting process “for making this plebiscite one of the most peaceful in the entire country.”
“No untoward incidents were reported. From the start to the finish, everything was under control by the COmelec, AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police),” he said.
Cuevas also thanked and honored the teachers and other personnel of the Department of Education for showing up and serving wholeheartedly in the plebiscite.
“Despite all odds, the DepEd people served 100 percent in the plebiscite. To the men and women of DepEd, you are the unsung heroes of the February 6 plebiscite of the BOL,” the provincial election officer said.
Although the six towns — Balo-i, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan and Tangkal – overwhelmingly voted “yes” to the question of inclusion in the BOL, the neighboring municipalities overwhelmingly voted against the six towns’ inclusion.
-“No” vote wins in majority of Lanao del Norte towns –
This “consent” vote of the neighboring towns is required in the double majority needed for their inclusion in the BARMM. So even if the six towns voted “yes” for BARMM inclusion, their vote was frustrated by the “No” votes of the surrounding municipalities.
Only the neighboring towns of Pantao Ragat, Poona Piagapo, and Salvador towns agreed to let the six towns to be included in the BARMM.
The other neighboring towns of the six municipalities which sought to be included in BARMM voted “No.” These are the towns of Kauswagan, Linamon, Matungao, Bacolod, Baroy, Kapatagan, Kolambogan, Lala, Maigo, Magsaysay, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Sapad, and Tubod.
Because of this, “no municipality which sought to be included in the bARMM will be included,” said Cuevas citing unofficial poll results. After the provincial canvass, the election returns will still be sent to Comelec’s main office for the official national canvassing.
-Lanao del Norte governor hails “No” victory-
Lanao del Norte Gov. Imelda Dimaporo hailed the victory of the “No” votes, saying that she hoped that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would respect the decision of the province.
Dimaporo had actively campaigned for a “No” vote in the BOL plebiscite, saying that her province already was progressive and content under the present system, and that it did not need to join the new autonomous region.
The governor said she also hoped that the MILF’s Commander Bravo, who earlier posted a video threatening on undesirable consequences should the “No” votes win the in province, would also respect the plebiscite results.
“Sana i-respeto niya (Commander Bravo) kung ano ang nangyari sa Lanao DeL Norte (I hope he [Commander Bravo] respects what happened here in Lanao Del Norte),” she said.
“They always say that Commander Bravo is a loose command that they (MILF top officials) have no control over him,” Dimaporo said.
“I hope through Secretary (Carlito) Galvez (Jr) of OPAPP (Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) . Sana we can sit down on how to help Commander Bravo,” the governor added.
According to the election results so far in Lanao Del Norte, this was how the voting went in the six towns which sought BARMM inclusion:
Balo-i
• “Yes” votes: 8,553
• “No” votes: 3,038
Voting of other towns on Balo-i’s BARMM inclusion:
• “Yes” votes: 73,164
• “No” votes: 154,553
Munai
• “Yes” votes: 10,765
• “No” votes: 4
Voting of other towns on Munai’s BARMM inclusion:
• “Yes” votes: 71,148
• “No” votes: 158,025
Nunungan
• “Yes” votes: 1,802
• “No” votes: 1,004
Voting of other towns on Nunungan’s BARMM inclusion:
• “Yes” votes: 79,935
• “No” votes: 156,630
Pantar
• “Yes” votes: 7,840
• “No” votes: 256
Voting of other towns on Pantar’s BARMM inclusion:
• “Yes” votes: 73,992
• “No” votes: 150,705
Tagoloan
• “Yes” votes: 2,760
• “No” votes: 1,373
Voting of other towns on Tagoloan’s BARMM inclusion:
• “Yes” votes: 78,849
• “No” votes: 156,605
Tangkal
• “Yes” votes: 6,276
• “No” votes: 0
Voting of other towns on Tangkal’s BARMM inclusion:
• “Yes” votes: 75,364
• “No” votes: 157,417
