SGA okays 8 new towns, MP Antao describes plebiscite as culmination of Bangsamoro aspirations
COTABATO CITY - A Moro enclave that became an official part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) through a plebiscite in 2019 on Saturday (April 13,2024) voted resoundingly ‘YES’ in another plebiscite, ratifying the creation of eight new municipalities in North Cotabato.
Atty. Myla Luna Bayao, Commission on Elections (Comelec) North Cotabato director told ndbcnews.com.ph that plebiscite had an 81.10 percent voter turnout. Out of its 89,594 registered voters, 72,658 have actually voted. Of these 72,358 voted in favor of the creation of eight towns while 273 voted “No.”
Member of Parliament Mohammad Kellie Antao who voted yes said the voting was the culmination of the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people in the area for inclusion in the autonomous region.
“The event today is indeed historical as this represents the aspirations of our people,” Antao said.
“It was a successful, peaceful and orderly conduct of plebiscite,” Cotabato provincial election supervisor Lawyer Mayla Luna-Bayao told reporters.
Data below shows how the voters actually voted:
MUNICIPALITY OF KADAYANGAN
YES - 6,292; NO - 80
TURN OUT OF VOTERS - 71.37%
MUNICIPALITY OF KAPALAWAN
YES - 10,495; NO - 2
TURN OUT OF VOTERS : 81.34%
MUNICIPALITY OF LIGAWASAN
YES - 11,788; NO - 0
TURN OUT OF VOTERS - 93.53%
MUNICIPALITY OF MALIDEGAO
YES - 12,255; NO - 44
TURN OUT OF VOTERS - 79.28%
MUNICIPALITY OF NABALAWAG
YES - 7,442; NO - 14
TURN OUT - 72.01%
MUNICIPALITY OF OLD KAABAKAN
YES - 6,611; NO - 4
TURN OUT - 86.88%
MUNICIPALITY OF PAHAMUDDIN
YES - 5,974; NO - 116
TURN OUT - 64.09
MUNICIPALITY OF TUGUNAN
YES - 11,501; NO- 13
TURNOUT - 94.87%