BOL plebiscite in Cotabato to push through despite New Year's Eve blast —Comelec

The plebiscite for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in Cotabato City will proceed on January 21 even in the aftermath of the New Year’s Eve blast which killed two people and injured 34 others, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez was referring to the BOL plebiscite on January 21 for voters within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) areas, Isabela City in Basilan and Cotabato City. Those residing in Lanao del Norte except Iligan City and six North Cotabato municipalities, on the other hand, will vote on February 6, 2019.

“There are statements [on the ground] that they would rather not be a part of the BOL plebiscite, but Cotabato City is explicitly included in the BOL [provision of areas which should cast their vote on the plebiscite for BOL ratification]. The BOL plebiscite will continue there [in Cotabato City] as planned on January 21 and we are ready for it,” Jimenez told reporters.

Comelec spokesperson Jimenez on Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebisicite in Cotabato City in aftermath of the blast: Plebiscite will proceed as planned on January 21. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/B32XXgiOCN

— Llanesca T. Panti (@llanescajourno) January 7, 2019

The BOL replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a Bangsamoro Autonomous Region governed by the Bangsamoro Parliament elected by the Bangsamoro Region’s inhabitants.

In addition, the BOL also grants the Bangsamoro Region five percent of the net national internal revenue collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs as block grant, on top of at least P5 billion worth of Special Development Fund for the Bangsamoro Region every year for the next 10 years, starting 2019.

At least 2.8 million voters are expected to cast their votes in the plebiscite based on Comelec records.

“Cotabato City is included in the law, and it can’t be clearer than that,” Jimenez added.

With two weeks before the first day of the BOL plebiscite, Jimenez said that the Comelec, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission and the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process are in the last phase of the information campaign on the BOL and that augmentation teams from Comelec offices across the country have started to fly to the plebiscite area.

“These teams are from Manila and other regions as well,” Jimenez said.

Likewise, Jimenez assured the public that the police have secured Cotabato City and the rest of the areas covered by BOL plebiscite.

“The PNP is on top of the situation. We are in a state of alertness particularly in the aftermath of the bombing incident,” Jimenez said.

“We have yet to decide if we should put it (Cotabato City) under control as some people have been asking, but if situation develops, we will respond accordingly,” Jimenez added.

The entire Mindanao, which includes Cotabato City, has been under martial law since May 2017—a decision made by President Rodrigo Duterte and extended by Congress thrice to supposedly suppress the rebellion led by terrorists from the ISIS-linked Maute group.

At least five blasts occurred in the last five months of 2018, including the Cotabato explosion. —KG, GMA News