What happens to Cotabato barangays not part of new Bangsamoro region?

Five out of  67 barangays in several towns in Cotabato that took part in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite did not get enough "yes" votes, GMA News' Ian Cruz reported for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho.

With this, the villages will not be included in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

One option these barangays have, according to the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), is that they could be clustered together and form a municipality of their own.

"Sa BOL po, binigay sa BTA (Bangsamoro Transition Authority) and sa Parliament 'yung kapangyarihan na mag-reconstitute noong mga political units that will become part of the autonomous region," BTC Commissioner Raissa Jajurie explained on Friday. 

"So, ibig sabihin, kung mga barangays po 'yun, puwede silang ma-cluster, gawin silang munisipyo," she added.

Transition officials are still studying the situation of two lone barangays in Aleosan town who voted 'yes' to their inclusion in the BARMM but were a distance away from each other.

The committee also explained how the residents of these barangays will be able to participate in the midterm elections in May.

"If they are reconstituted, ibig sabihin, magiging bago po silang munisipyo, then they will no longer be voting for the mayors of the original municipality to which they belong," Jajurie said.

"Magkakaroon sila ng sariling ballot pero sino bobotohan nila? Dahil nga po sa mga nasasakupan na 'yun, wala naman pong mga kandidato na puwede nilang iboto," lawyer Michael Abas, director of Commission on Elections Region 12, added. — Margaret Claire Layug/BAP, GMA News