NoCot mayor tells people to accept plebiscite results

PIKIT, North Cotabato -- Mayor Sumulong Sultan of this municipality has called on his constituents to accept the result of the recently-concluded Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite and move forward.

Sultan made the appeal after 22 of 23 villages in Pikit seeking inclusion to the proposed Bangsamoro political entity decided to join the expanded autonomous region following the February 6 BOL plebiscite.

Based on the plebiscite results, 63 of 67 villages in North Cotabato will become part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

“Whatever the outcome of the official canvassing from the Commission on Elections in Manila, let us accept it and let us move forward,” Sultan told reporters in an interview here Friday.

“We respect the decision of the electorate,” the mayor added, referring to the plebiscite that left his town with only 20 villages in its jurisdiction.

Pikit was earlier listed as an “area of immediate concern” by the police and the poll body due to the presence of armed men and a history of violence during political exercises.

One village of Pikit, Barangay Balatican, voted “no” to the inclusion to the proposed BARRM. The village is a known community of the Moro National Liberation Front under Nur Misuari, who prefers a federal set-up over BOL.

In North Cotabato’s 67 villages in seven towns -- Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Tulunan -- that participated in the plebiscite, four chose to remain with their mother municipality based on unofficial tally.

These are Barangay Galidan of Tulunan, Barangay Balatican of Pikit and the two areas of Aleosan town --barangays Lower Minggading and Pagangan. Official results of the North Cotabato balloting will be made known by the Comelec office in Manila next week.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza and Board Member Rolly Sacdalan issued separate statements congratulating the stakeholders of the peaceful and orderly plebiscite last February 6.

Mendoza said the inclusion of 63 villages to become part of the BARMM forms part of the government peace process with the Bangsamoro people, and that the local government unit had supported it all throughout.

Sacdalan, for his part, said he was elated that the democratic process went well for 13 villages of Midsayap that are now part of BARMM.

The Midsayap villages joining BARMM are Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan, Tugal, and Tumbras. (PNA)