ARMM residents won’t elect regional leaders in May 2019 polls due to BOL ratification

Residents of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR) won’t vote for their regional leaders in the May 2019 polls due to the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic law (BOL)—a measure that replaced the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Thursday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez was referring to the BOL, the ratification of which meant that the new BAR will be granted with an expanded land and water jurisdiction, fiscal autonomy, increased share in national government resources, among others.

“Those from [the previous] ARMM, they will still vote for senators and party-list representatives in the May elections, pero hindi na sila boboto ng kanilang regional elected officials like governor, vice governor, and members of their legislative assembly because this part will happen in 2022 [as provided by BOL],” Jimenez said.

Jimenez was referring to the BOL provision wherein the BOL’s ratification is also tantamount to establishing the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) which will serve as the interim government in the BAR during the transition period or until the next national elections is held on May 2022.

The Moro Islamic Liberation Front — which inked a peace agreement with the government in March 2014 which paved the way for the passage of the BOL — will lead the BTA, without prejudice to the participation of the Moro National Liberation Front in its membership.

The BTA will be composed of 80 members appointed by the President from various sectors. The incumbent ARMM officials, on the other hand, will automatically secure a BTA membership until their term expires on June 30, 2019. 

“Hindi naman magkakaproblema kasi our ballots are municipality/city and even precinct specific,” Jimenez added.

In closing, Jimenez assured the public that the ballots for the May 2019 polls would be printed in time for the May 13 elections.

The printing of the ballots for the May 2019 polls is set on Saturday, February 9.

“In the 2016 elections, we started printing February 12. Now, we are starting three days earlier. Considering what happened in 2016, we will be able to deliver the ballots on time,” Jimenez said.

The BOL was ratified by the ARMM residents during a plebiscite last January 21 with over 1.5 million "yes" votes as against 198,000 "no" votes. — MDM, GMA News