By Edwin Fernandez/PNA
COTABATO CITY — A Moro peace advocate said on Friday that more villages inhabited by Moros want to join the proposed new political entity in Muslim Mindanao.
“These villages really wanted to join because they see better life ahead,” said Taher Solaiman, chairperson of North Cotabato Composite Team of Civil Society Organizations (NCCT-CSO).
Solaiman said local officials and residents of 44 Muslim-dominated villages in North Cotabato and 12 barangays in Zamboanga del Sur want to join the proposed new territory of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
He said the officials and residents of the 44 Muslim villages have passed resolutions seeking inclusion in the proposed new political entity.
Solaiman and North Cotabato Board Member Kellie Antao, hand-carried the 44 petitions to the main office of the Commission on Elections in Manila early this week.
Solaiman said another group of peace advocate from Zamboanga del Sur also hand-carried village council resolutions asking the poll body that they be included in the January 2019 plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Residents will be asked if they wish to join the expanded regional government. If so, they need to vote yes to the BOL.
In North Cotabato, the BOL plebiscite only identified 39 villages where residents will be asked if they wanted to be part of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“So the number in North Cotabato would be from 39 to 44 villages,” Solaiman clarified.
The BOL (RA 11054) seeks to implement the major provisions of the peace deal between the government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, the political group representing the Bangsamoro people.
The 39 villages subject to inclusion in a plebiscite in January are in Carmen, Kabacan, Pikit, Pigcawayan, Midsayap, and Aleosan towns.
Solaiman said the 44 villages that petitioned for inclusion to the BARMM now includes Barangays Ilian and Natutungan in Matalam town; Balabak, Balungis, Bualan, Bulod, Bulol, Dalingaoen, Fort Pikit, Gli-Gli, Inug-ug, Langayen, Manaulanan, Nabundas, Nalapaan, Nunguan, Pamalian, Panicupan, Rajahmuda, Talitay and Tinutulan in Pikit; Buluan, Kayaga, Kilagasan, Lower Paatan, Magatos, Simone, and Tamped in Kabacan; Rangeban and Tumbras in Midsayap; Banucagun, Datu Mantil, Cabpangi, Libungan Toreta, Simsiman, and Upper Pangangkalan in Pigcawayan; Kibayao, Kitulaan, Langogan, Lanoon, Manili, Pebpoluan and Tupig in Carmen; and Pagangan in Aleosan.
Solaiman said he hopes the poll body will consider these resolutions.
