Lanao del Norte rejects inclusion of 6 towns in new Bangsamoro region

The province of Lanao del Norte has rejected the proposed inclusion of six of its municipalities under the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the partial and unofficial tally of the Commission on Elections provincial board of canvassers has shown.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on Balita Pilipinas, the no vote won in the province  following the pleabiscite conducted on Wednesday, February 6.

The second round of the plebiscite on the Bangsamoro Organic Law covered the inclusion of Lanao del Norte’s municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagaloan and Tangkal.

All the municipalities voted ‘yes’ for their inclusion under the new Bangsamoro region.

The ‘yes’ vote of each municipality, however, was in vain after the ‘no’ vote won in the whole province.

The Comelec attributed the ‘no’ vote win in the Lanao del Norte provincial level to the lack of ‘yes’ votes among residents of vote-rich coastal communities that did not want the six towns out of province's jurisdiction.

Lanao del Norte’s governor is Imelda Dimaporo, while the Vice Governor is Cristy Atay.

The members of the House of Representatives in the province are Abdullah and Khalid Dimaporo.

Imelda is the wife of Abdullah. Khalid is their son.

Lanao del Norte’s local officials have been vocal in opposing the inclusion of its municipalities under the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

In a separate report by Raffy Tima on GMA's 24 Oras, Lanao del Norte Governor Dimaporo said she hopes the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Commander Bravo will accept the result of the referendum.

"Sana naman irespeto niya. Irespeto niya dahil kami dito ay namumuhay kami nang... peaceful kaming namumuhay dito sa Lanao del Norte," Governor Dimaporo said.

Some officials from the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, however, refused to be complacent about the outcome of the plebiscite.

"Yes, orderly, peaceful 'yung plebiscite pero it does not necessarily mean it was also honest and most importantly credible. So 'yun ho 'yung mga lingering issues na kailangan nating ayusin at ipaliwanag doon ho sa mga tao natin," said Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, Deputy Secretrary General of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.

"It's up to them kung may mga ebidensiya silang makita then iprotesta na lang nila sa Comelec," he added.

The BARMM inclusion of the six municipalities from Lanao del Norte could have been a breakthrough in the peace process, given that most camps of the MILF are in the province.

The report said that the decommissioning of the MILF rebels and their reintegration to the community as civilians could probably be smoother if these areas will be part of the new Bangsamoro region.

The security forces continue to implement strict security measures in the province to ensure that no untoward incidents will ensue from the plebiscite results. —Llanesca T. Panti with Dona Magsino/NB/BAP, GMA News