The administrative seat of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in Cotabato City. (Photo courtesy of BPI-BARMM)
COTABATO CITY – The highest policy-making body of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has requested the Department of the Interior and Local Government to immediately turn over Cotabato City to the regional government under the supervision of the region’s Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG-BARMM).
A resolution passed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) on February 24 pointed out that the turnover of Cotabato City is mandated under the provisions of Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
The resolution quoted paragraph D, Section 3 of Article XV of the BOL stating that “the city of Cotabato shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region if the majority of the votes cast in the city shall be in favor of its inclusion.”
On Jan. 21, 2019, residents of Cotabato City affirmed its inclusion to the BARMM through a plebiscite with 36,682 “yes” votes over the 24,994 “no” votes.
Sitting as the national plebiscite board of canvassers, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on January 25 last year certified the results of the plebiscite for the ratification and inclusion of Cotabato City in BARMM.
However, the local government headed by Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi has a pending case before the Comelec and the Supreme Court questioning the results of the plebiscite.
Last week, President Rodrigo Duterte met with Sayadi and BARMM interim chief Minister Murad Ebrahim to resolve the issue.
The President told Sayadi and Ebrahim he will decide on the matter in due time and that his decision will be for the good of both sides.
Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, MILG minister and concurrent BARMM spokesperson, said that since Cotabato City by virtue of the plebiscite has been constituted "as part and parcel of the BARMM, no executive action may detach it from the autonomous region."
“Under the law, the inclusion of Cotabato City is automatic and mandatory. No further action is needed and when people have spoken, it must be carried out,” Sinarimbo said in a statement.
Aside from Cotabato City, 63 villages in six towns of North Cotabato province have opted to join BARMM during the 2019 regional plebiscite. that joined the plebiscite, (PNA)
