2019 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite

2019 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite
Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) Plebiscite
Location	Mindanao, Philippines Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Cotabato City Isabela, Basilan Lanao del Norte (excluding Iligan) 7 municipalities in Cotabato (see below for exact scope)
Date	January 21 and February 6, 2019
Results by locality   Yes    No
Results
Ratify the BOL   88.57% Don't ratify the BOL   11.43% Turn-out   87.8%
Figures above only show votes for the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) and excludes votes to join the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BAR). Map shows the results of the first round of the plebiscite. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao voted for the ratification of the BOL, and Cotabato City (inset) voted for the inclusion to the BAR while Isabela City in Basilan voted against. Note that voters in the rest of Basilan had to consent for Isabela to be included in the BAR aside from voters in Isabela itself. Results are unofficial results.

The 2019 Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite was a two-part plebiscite to decide on the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in the Philippines, serving to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with a proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as well as the scope of the said region.

Under the organic law, the government would have to hold the plebiscite not more than 150 days from the signing of the BOL into law (July 26, 2018) but not earlier than 90 days from the law's signing. ^[1] The first part of the plebiscite was held on January 21 where voters from the ARMM voted in regards of the BOL's ratification and residents of Cotabato City and Isabela, Basilan voted for or against their cities' inclusion to the proposed region. The second part was held on February 6 to potentially expand the BARMM; with voters from six municipalities in Lanao del Norte and 67 barangays in Cotabato province voting for or against their localities' inclusion to the BARMM.

The Commission on Elections announced on January 25, 2019 that the BOL was "deemed ratified" after results in the first part of the plebiscite showed majority support for the law's ratification. The election body also officially announced that majority of voters in Cotabato City voted in favor of joining the proposed autonomous region while voters of Isabela City in Basilan rejected their inclusion. During the February 6 referendum, however, 63 of the 67 Cotabato barangays and 9 of 22 towns in Lanao del Norte saw voters in favor of joining the new region. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]} Despite the fact that the six municipalities in Lanao del Norte which petitioned to join were among the 9 voting in favor of inclusion, ^[5] a majority of support was required from not only from voters in the individual municipality, but also from voters throughout the rest of the province as well. As a result, no municipality in Lanao del Norte would join the autonomous region. ^[6] All of the barangays in Cotabato province which saw voters vote in favor of joining, however, will join the new region. ^{[2] [4]}

Scope

Bangsamoro 'core' territory

Voters in localities referred to as the core territory of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region are eligible to participate in the plebiscite. ^[7] The core territory covers:

• Current territory of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
• Isabela City in Basilan
• Cotabato City
• 6 municipalities in Lanao del Norte (*) — Nunungan, Tangcal, Munai, Pantar, Balo-i and Tagoloan
• 39 barangays in North Cotabato (*)
  • Aleosan (3) — Dunguan, Lower Mingading and Tapodoc
  • Carmen (2) — Manarapan and Nasapian
  • Kabacan (3) — Nanga-an, Simbuhay and Sanggadong
  • Midsayap (12) — Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilin, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambulawan and Tugal
  • Pigcawayan (8) — Lower Baguer, Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Kadingilan, Matilac, Patot and Lower Pangangkalan
  • Pikit (11) — Bangoinged, Balatican, S. Balong, S. Balongis, Batulawan, Buliok, Gokotan, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual and Macasendeg

Voters in the whole provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato will also have to vote if they consent the localities' secession from their parent province to join the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Other areas

Additionally adjacent local government units bordering the localities above can opt for a voluntary inclusion in the plebiscite through their local governments or a petition by its registered voters. The Comelec has released guidelines regarding this concern on October 22, 2018 and gave local government units aspiring to participate in the plebiscite until October 31, 2018 to comply. Voters or the local government of the petitioning locality had to pay a ₱10,000 filing fee and a ₱100 research fee which were among the requirements imposed by the election body. ^[8]

A total of 62 localities was initially announced to have made bids to participate in the plebiscite although not all of them are contiguous to the defined Bangsamoro core territory. 56 of these petitions were initiated by local governments while six were made by registered voters of the petitioning localities. The Comelec plans to decide on all of these petitions by mid-November 2018 ^[7] and later moved their target to December 15, 2018. ^[9] Due to the large number of petitions, December 7, 2018 the Comelec decided to schedule the planned plebiscite into two separate dates; on January 21 and February 6, 2019 since they concluded they won't be able to process all petitions by December 15 with localities with successful petitions taking part in the February vote. ^{[10] [9]}

A total of 103 petitions were filed but only 28 was accepted. Petitions which were not accepted either due to the petitioning locality not being adjacent to the defined core territory of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region or failure to submit sufficient requirements for their bid to get included in the plebiscite. Voters from the 28 accepted barangays will participate in the February polling. ^{[11] [12]}

Approved additional areas

By early January 2019, the Comelec has approved the petition of 20 barangays in North Cotabato and they will participate in the plebiscite. These barangays are: ^[13]

• Aleosan (1) — Pagangan
• Carmen (5) — Pebpoluan, Kibayao, Kitulaan, Tupig, and Langogan
• Pigcawayan (4) — Libungan Torreta, Pangankalan, Datu Mantil, and Simsiman
• Pikit (10) — Rajahmuda, Barungis, Gli-Gli, Nalapaan, Panicupan, Bualan, Nabundas, Nunguan, Manaulanan, and Bulol

On January 11, 2019, the Comelec has announced the final list of additional participating localities for the plebiscite. The petitions of eight more barangays, all from North Cotabato, to join the plebiscite were approved by the election body. ^{[11] [12]}

• Pikit (2) — Pamalian and Fort Pikit
• Kabacan (4) — Pedtad, Buluan, Simone, and Tamped
• Midsayap (1) — Tumbras
• Tulunan (1) — Galidan

Unapproved petitions

At least twelve localities in Zamboanga del Sur filed petition for their participation in the plebiscite. ^[14] Three island barangays of Zamboanga City has also reportedly filed petition for their participation, a supposed move which was condemned by city mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco. ^[15] The barangay captains of the three Zamboanga City barangays later denied filing petitions. ^[16]

Preparations

Voters' registration

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has conducted a three-day satellite voter registration in select venues in the constituent provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao as well as in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato, and in the cities of Cotabato and Isabela, Basilan from September 11 to 13, 2018. Alongside with voter's registration, residents were able to transfer, reactivate, or correct their registration, as well as have their records included or reinstated. Those who have registered for the most recent barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan elections were not required to undergo the registration process. ^[17] 15 satellites centers were set by the COMELEC, one of which was in a camp by the rebel group Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) who played a major part in the conception of the BOL. MILF members were also among those who registered for the plebiscite with some of them lacking government-issued IDs such as birth certificates. However their own identification documents issued by their group was accepted as valid IDs for the purpose of registration ^[18]

The Comelec has recorded a total of 2,839,659 registered voters from 3,273 in certain areas in Mindanao. The election body is expecting 75% turn-out for the vote. ^[19]

Campaign and plebiscite period

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte speaks at the Peace Assembly for the Ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Complex Compound in Cotabato City on January 18, 2019.

The campaign period for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite began on December 7, 2018 ^[20] and ended in January 19, 2019 while the plebiscite period is scheduled to cover December 7, 2018 to February 5, 2019. The voting for the plebiscite took place on January 21, 2019 as per an en banc decision by the Commission on Elections. ^[21]

During the campaign period, a gun ban was imposed in localities which will be participating in the plebiscite. During the same period the following acts were also prohibited: establishment of a new voting precinct or alteration of the territory of an existing one will be prohibited; transfer or detail of officers and civil service employees; organization and maintenance of "strike forces" or similar entities; and the suspension of any elective public official from the barangay to the provincial level including as well as elective officials in independent cities. ^[22]

The Comelec was also tasked to aid in holding information campaigns in every participating local government units as well as allow the conduct of information dissemination and public advocacy events by other government agencies, non-government organizations and private individuals in relation to the plebiscite. Every barangay was also directed to hold at least one assembly during the campaign period so that its constituents are informed regarding the BOL. ^[22]

On January 6, 2019, a rally was organized in Jolo, Sulu as an expression of support to the ratification of the BOL which was attended by former Sulu governor Benjamin Loong as well as former and incumbent mayors of some of the towns of Sulu. Similar action is planned in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and other parts of Sulu. ^[23]

There is also reluctance or opposition against the ratification of the BOL. ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman allayed concerns of Christian living in the city of Isabela in Basilan of potential marginalization if their city becomes part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region reasoning that the neighboring town of Lamitan has been govern by Christians despite being part of the ARMM. ^[24] Hataman has also said that Christian practices such as fiestas and eating pork will not be made illegal if the BOL gets ratified contrary to what people against the legislation is saying in their campaign. ^[25] Basilan Governor Jim Hataman on his part claims that the BOL is a "sure win" in his province. ^[24]

The provincial government of Lanao del Norte is campaigning for a "No" vote since it opposes the inclusion of six of its municipalities in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo as well as her husband Abdullah and son Mohammad Khalid, who are both members of the House of Representatives leads the provincial government's campaign. Abdullah Makapaar, the leader of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's North Western Mindanao Command who is also known as Commander Bravo, is campaigning for a "Yes" vote promising to double the salary of teachers and the establishment of orphanage centers in the province. ^[26]

Question

Ballot paper samples for the plebiscite from left to right: For voters in the ARMM except Basilan, Isabela City in Basilan, the rest of Basilan, and Cotabato City

The crafting of the questions to be use in the plebiscite by the Comelec was already being finalized by mid-September 2018. ^[27]

In October 2018, it was reported that in the defined core territories of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, voters will be asked to answer "Yes" or "No" if they approve the Bangsamoro Organic Law or not while in surrounding areas and non-core areas, voters will be presented a "two-folded" question. ^[28]

The plebiscite question will be in Arabic and Filipino; both languages will be used in the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao areas while only Filipino will be used in the rest of the plebiscite's scope. No ballots with English questions was printed. ^[29]

Voters in the existing ARMM will be only asked to answer one question: ^[19]

In Filipino:

"Payag ba kayo na pagtibayin ang Batas Republika Blg.11054 na kilala din bilang "Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao"?

In Arabic:

ه‍ل أنت توُد الموافقة على القرار الجمه‍ورى رقم ١١٠٥٤ المعروف باسم: "القانون العضوى للحكم الذاتى امنطقة بانجسامورو فى مسلمى مينداناو".

English translation:

Are you willing to adopt the Republic Act No. 11054 also known as "Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao"?

Voters in Basilan will also be asked whether if they wanted to include the city of Isabela in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in addition to the question above regarding their stance on the ratification of the BOL. The question will be presented as follows:

In Filipino:

"Payag ba kayo na isama ang Lungsod Isabela, Basilan sa Rehiyong Awtonomo ng Bangsamoro?"

In Arabic:

هل انت توافق على ادراج مدينة ايسابيلا، باسيلان فى الحكم الداتى لمنطقة بانجسامورو؟

English Translation:

"Are you willing to include the city of Isabela, Basilan in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region?"

Plebiscite participants in the city of Isabela itself and Cotabato City will only answer one question; regarding if they favor their locality to be part of the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region or not. ^[30]

Organization

Voters look for their names inside Basak Malutlut Elementary Schoo in Marawi during the January 21 plebiscite.

The Comelec held a simulation of the plebiscite on October 23, 2018 at its main office in Intramuros, Manila. ^[28] Ballot printing started on December 7, 2018 and lasted for three days. Around 2.8 million ballots were printed. ^{[29] [31]}

The plebiscite was originally planned to held at a single date on January 21, 2019. However the Comelec announced on December 7, 2018 that the plebiscite will be held in two separate days instead; on January 21 and February 6, 2019. ^[32] The election body reasoned that the move was to allow the resolution of pending petitions for voluntary inclusion of additional local government units in the plebiscite. ^[10]

Voters in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao including Cotabato City and Isabela City in Basilan will take part in the January 21 vote while the rest of the named participating localities in the BOL as well as additional localities which successfully petitioned for their inclusion will take part in the February 6 vote. ^[10]

For both dates, the Comelec has allotted eight hours of voting. Voting will start at 8:00 a.m. (UTC+8) and will officially close at 3:00 p.m. Voters within 30 metres (98 ft) in front of the polling area will still be allowed to vote past 3:00 p.m. Voting will be manual with the ballot containing questions answerable by "yes" or "no" in English or its equivalent in Filipino or any other indigenous Philippine languages. ^[33] Answers made with any other mark such as a check, a cross, or a thumb mark were not accepted as valid. ^[34]

At least 25 international observers were permitted to oversee the plebiscite in order to establish credibility of the plebiscite. They are few restrictions and regulations imposed such as the requirement for the observer identify themselves to election authorities on ground and for them to provide copies of their report to the government. They are not allowed to interfere in the process of the plebiscite itself. Their report will also be used by the Comelec as reference to improve the process of future elections and plebiscites. ^[35]

Budget

It is estimated that the plebiscite would require ₱857 million pesos. As of mid-September 2018, the proposed national budget for 2019 still does not include the budget for the January 2019 plebiscite. ^[36]

In an event that the Congress fails to appropriate part of the 2019 national budget for the holding of the plebiscite, it was proposed that funds acquired by Comelec in the 2018 barangay elections be used to partially satisfy the financial needs of the plebiscite. ^[36]

By November 2018, there is already a budget allocation for the plebiscite. The Department of Budget and Management has stated that the funds will be drawn from the fund allocation of the Comelec. ^[37]

Legal challenges

Governor Abdusakur Tan II, the provincial governor of Sulu questioned the constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Organic Law before the Supreme Court of the Philippines through a petition filed in October 2018. He asked the high court to rule the BOL as unconstitutional and for the stoppage of the planned plebicite. According to the petition, the BOL which seeks to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is illegal citing a view that the Constitution provided for only one Organic act for the establishment of an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. It also argued that only Constitutional amendment can legally abolish the ARMM and not legislation by the Congress. It also questioned the provision that the ARMM would be considered as "one geographical area" for the purpose of the plebiscite as well as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's lead role in the Bangsamoro Transition Commission to the prejudice of other Muslims who are affiliated with other rebel groups and non-Muslims. ^[38]

The Philippine Constitutional Association (Philconsa) also filed a similar petition against the BOL while and intervention was filed by the Philippine Association of Islamic Accountants (PAIA) seeking for the dismissal of the two petitions filed by the Philconsa and the Sulu provincial government. The two petitions were ordered to be consolidated by the Supreme Court on January 8, 2019. Associate Justice Mario Victor Leonen will handle the cases. ^[39]

Opinion polling

The International Alert (IA) conducted a survey in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 614 respondents aged 18-35 regarding their position in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region creation plebiscite. 89.4 percent of the IA survey reported that they will vote in favor of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law while 2.5 percent said that they will vote against the measure and the rest were unsure. However in the same survey, respondents in the Sulu archipelago were largely undecided whether to vote for and against the measure compared to their counterparts in mainland Mindanao. ^[40]

Results

Map showing the results of the January 21, 2019 plebiscite.

Ratification of the BOL

On January 25, the Commission on Elections, as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers, declared the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law creating the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), after a majority of votes from the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) approved its creation. ^[41]

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,540,017	88.57
No	198,750	11.43
Total votes	1,738,767	100.00
Registered voters and turnout	1,980,441	87.8
Source: Cruz, Ian (January 24, 2019). "ARMM votes yes to BOL, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region". GMA News. Retrieved January 25, 2019. "National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers Report No. 2" (PDF). Commission on Elections . National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers. Retrieved January 26, 2019.

Plebiscite on the ratification of the BOL results (without invalid ballots)

Yes: 88.57%	No: 11.43%

Present ARMM

Summary of results – On ratification of the BOL

Province		For		Against		Turnout
		Total	%	Total	%
	Basilan (excluding Isabela)	147,598	95.78%	6,496	4.22%	154,094
	Lanao del Sur	503,626	98.08%	9,816	1.91%	513,442
	Maguindanao	433,273	96.44%	15,990	3.56%	449,263
	Sulu	137,630	45.7%	163,526	54.3%	301,156
	Tawi-Tawi	143,443	93.84%	9,419	6.16%	152,862
Turnout		1,540,017	88.57%	198,750	11.43%	1,738,767

On ratification of the BARMM from the then components of the ARMM, the entire ARMM voted as one; therefore, Sulu's rejection of the BARMM does not remove them from the BARMM.

Inclusion to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Cotabato City and Isabela, Basilan

Residents of Cotabato City and Isabela City, the latter of which is part of Basilan province but not the ARMM, voted on January 21 regarding their inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. Isabela being a part of Basilan province, the residents of the other towns of Basilan had to consent if they were in favor of Isabela's potential inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

On January 25, the Commission on Elections, as the National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers, announced that voters in Cotabato City, an independent component city, voted in favor of inclusion in the BARMM. In Isabela City, majority of voters rejected their inclusion in the proposed BARMM while majority of voters in the rest of the province excluding Isabela agreed to the potential inclusion of the latter in the BARMM. Lacking a double majority, Isabela remains a part of the Zamboanga Peninsula region. ^[41]

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

City		For		Against		Turnout
		Total	%	Total	%
	Isabela City (Basilan)	19,032	45.89%	22,441	54.11%	41,473
	Cotabato City	36,682	59.48%	24,994	40.52%	61,676
Turnout						TBD

Rest of Basilan

The other towns of Basilan will have to consent if they favor Isabela's inclusion to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.

Basilan excluding Isabela did consent for Isabela's inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. ^[41]

Summary of results – On Isabela joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Area		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Basilan (excluding Isabela)	144,640	94.46%	8,487	5.54%	153,127
Turnout						TBD

Municipalities in Lanao del Norte

The six towns voted in favor, in the cases of Munai and Tangcal, overwhelmingly, to join the BARMM.

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Municipality		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Balo-i	8,533		3,038
	Nunungan	1,802		1,004
	Munai	10,765		4
	Pantar	7,840		256
	Tagoloan	2,760		1,373
	Tangcal	6,276		0
Turnout						TBD

Rest of Lanao del Norte

Like in the case of Isabela in Basilan, the six towns inclusion in the proposed Bangsamoro Autonomous Region will also have to secure consent from the rest of the towns in Lanao del Norte. Each town will have to secure consent individually. The city of Iligan, a highly urbanized city not under the jurisdiction of Lanao del Norte, will not participate in the plebiscite.

The other towns in Lanao del Norte rejected to allow the towns petitioning to be a part of the BARMM from joining. This defeated the measure of these towns from joining. ^[42]

Summary of results – On Lanao del Norte towns joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Municipality
	Balo-i					Nunungan					Munai					Pantar					Tagoloan					Tangcal
	For		Against		Total	For		Against		Total	For		Against		Total	For		Against		Total	For		Against		Total	For		Against		Total
	Total	%	Total	%		Total	%	Total	%		Total	%	Total	%		Total	%	Total	%		Total	%	Total	%		Total	%	Total	%
Bacolod	1,453		8,497
Baroy	272		11,791
Kapatagan	795		20,776
Kauswagan	2,308		6,905
Kolambugan	1,204		9,634
Linamon	626		6,782
Magsaysay	2,346		3,233
Maigo	3,475		4,501
Matungao	1,442		1,666
Pantao Ragat	9,116		0
Poona Piagapo	5,231		333
Salvador	11,379		279
Sapad	1,162		5,739
Sultan Naga Dimaporo	567		24,405
Tubod	789		18,980
Turnout					TBD					TBD					TBD					TBD					TBD					TBD
Rest of Lanao del Norte	73,164		154,553			79,935		156,630			71,148		158,025			73,992		150,705			78,849		156,605			75,364		157,417

Barangays in North Cotabato

Out of 67 barangays of North Cotabato that were included in the plebiscite, 63 voted for inclusion. The four that rejected the measure are Galidan in Tulunan, Balatican in Pikit, and Pagangan and Lower Mingading in Aleosan; these four shall not be joining the BARMM. Meanwhile, each municipality consented to its barangays in joining the BARMM. In Pikit, the most popular municipality in North Cotabato, all but one barangay that voted in the plebiscite to join declined. This led to 20 barangays staying out of the BARMM, out of 42. Pikit's town hall, which is located in Fort Pikit, one of the barangays that voted for inclusion, is being petitioned to be annexed by Poblacion, one of the towns that didn't petition to be included. ^[43]

The barangays in Aleosan and Tolonan voted in favor of their inclusion but majority of voters in the rest of their parent municipalities voted against the barangays' inclusion. Barangay Baltican in Pikit rejected their inclusion while the rest of Pikit consented the barangay's inclusion and would have been part of the new autonomous region if Baltican voters also voted for their inclusion. ^[44]

BARMM Core Territory

Aleosan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Dunguan
	Lower Mingading
	Tapodoc
Turnout						TBD

Carmen

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Manarapan
	Nasapian
Turnout						TBD

Kabacan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Municipality		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Nanga-an
	Sanggadong
	Simbuhay
Turnout						TBD

Midsayap

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Central Labas
	Damatulan
	Kadigasan
	Kadingilan
	Kapinpilin
	Kudangaran
	Malingao
	Mudseng
	Nabalawag
	Olandang
	Sambulawan
	Tugal
Turnout						TBD

Pigcawayan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Municipality		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Buricain
	Balacayon
	Datu Binasing
	Lower Baguer
	Lower Pangangkalan
	Kadingilan
	Matilac
	Patot
Turnout						TBD

Pikit

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Municipality		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Bangoinged
	Balatican
	S. Balong
	S. Balongis
	Batulawan
	Buliok
	Gokotan
	Kabalasan
	Lagunde
	Macabual
	Macasendeg
Turnout						TBD

Approved petitioning barangays

Aleosan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Pagangan
Turnout						TBD

Carmen

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Kibayao
	Kitulaan
	Langogan
	Pebpoluan
	Tupig
Turnout						TBD

Pigcawayan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Datu Mantil
	Libungan Torreta
	Upper Pangankalan
	Simsiman
Turnout						TBD

Pikit

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Barungis
	Bualan
	Bulol
	Fort Pikit
	Gli-Gli
	Manaulanan
	Nabundas
	Nalapaan
	Nunguan
	Panicupan
	Pamalian
	Rajahmuda
Turnout						TBD

Kabacan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Buluan
	Pedtad
	Simone
	Tamped
Turnout						TBD

Midsayap

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Tumbras
Turnout						TBD

Tulunan

Summary of results – On joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Barangay		For		Against		Total
		Total	%	Total	%
	Galidan
Turnout						TBD

Summary

The barangays included in the BARMM as core territories plus barangays with approved petitions will secure approval from their mother municipalities to join BARMM.

Summary of results – On some barangays of towns in Cotabato joining the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

Municipality	Barangay		For		Against		Total
			Total	%	Total	%
Aleosan
Carmen
Kabacan
Midsayap
Pigcawayan
Pikit
Tulunan		Bacong
		Bagumbayan
		Banayal
		Batang
		Bituan
		Bual
		Bunawan
		Dungos
		New Caridad
		La Esperanza
		Lampanag
		Minapan
		Magbok
		Maybula
		Kanibong
		Damawato
		Daig
		Paraiso
		Poblacion
		Popoyon
		Sibsib
		Tambac
		Tuburan
		F. Cajelo
		Genovesa Baynosa
		Nabundasan
		New Panay
		New Culasi
	Turnout						TBD
		Rest of Cotabato Municipalities Affected
	Turnout						TBD

Reactions to the results

To the January 21 vote

Discrepancies were noted regarding the actual number of votes cast in Cotabato City; a total of 39,027 votes were recorded but 6,682 "yes" votes were recorded and 24,994 "no" votes with the combined total of the yes and no votes at 61,676. The National Plebiscite Board of Canvassers ordered a retabulation of the votes from Cotabato City to validate the votes. ^[45]

The mayor of Cotabato City, Guiani Sayaidi, is to file a protest because of the results. ^[46] She claims alleges harassment of voters who were not supportive of the BOL and "flying voters" or non-residents voting in another precinct. ^[45] Sayaidi later alleged a conspiracy between the national government and the MILF for the result of the plebiscite in her city. ^[47] She said that the military did not respond to her pleas to disperse MILF members which she claimed were harassing voters and also mentioned an alleged detention of barangay chief at the headquarters headquarters of the Philippine Army's 6th Infantry Division after being told to attend a seminar in relation to the plebiscite at the eve of the plebiscite voting date. The claim has been denied by the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Sayaidi was told to bring the matter to a "proper forum". ^[48]

Less than a week after the plebiscite, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral in Jolo of Sulu Province was bombed on January 27, one inside the church and another outside after the first bombing when the armed forced responded. Around 18 people were killed, while 82 others were injured. ^[49] The Armed Forces of the Philippines blamed the Ajang-Ajang group of the Abu Sayyaf as the perpetrators. Sulu narrowly rejected inclusion in the BARMM, but since the old ARMM voted for inclusion, Sulu could not opt out of inclusion. The military has received reports that the Abu Sayyaf with foreign collaboration has been planning to attack an urban area for a "long time" already and insists it has yet to connect the bombings to the plebiscite itself. ^{[50] [51]}

The United Nations and the European Union the result of the plebiscite and Bangsamoro Organic Law as a significant achievement in the Mindanao peace process. ^[52] The government of Turkey issued a statement with the same message ^[53] while Japan has pledged continued support for aiding developments in Mindanao in accordance with the peace process. ^[52]

To the February 6 vote

Following unofficial results, that the majority of voters in Lanao del Norte voted against the inclusion of six municipalities of the province in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the Philippine National Police decided to keep officers stationed in various parts of the province for election duties for the plebiscite to remain in anticipation of adverse reaction to the defeat of the "Yes" votes. ^[54]

Aftermath

President Rodrigo Duterte being presented the results of the plebiscite by Comelec chairman Sheriff Abas in a ceremony.

The Commission on Elections announced on January 25, 2019 that the BOL is "deemed ratified" which meant that the ARMM will be abolished and that the process of the formal establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region begins. The election body also announced that Cotabato City will be part of this new autonomous region while Isabela City in Basilan which was never part of the ARMM will remain outside of the new autonomous region. The election body also confirmed in February 14, 2019, that all six Lanao del Norte municipalities which could then-potentially be part of the new region voted in favor of their inclusion but failed to gained approval from voters in other towns in the province. 63 out of 67 barangays were also announced to form part of the future autonomous region after they verified that voters in this barangays voted in favor of their inclusion while the rest of the voters from their respective parent municipalities consented their inclusion. ^{[55] [56]}

The barangays that will be part of the BARMM will not immediately secede from their parent municipalities and province once the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is effectively established. They are expected to vote for municipal officials of their parent municipalities and North Cotabato provincial officials in the 2019 Philippine general election in May if the barangays are not reorganized into a new municipality or merged with any of the neighboring neighboring municipalities of Maguindanao in time before the elections. ^[57]

The members of a future interim regional government of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the Bangsamoro Transition Authority are set to take their oaths on February 20, 2019 along with the ceremonial confirmation of the plebiscite results of both the January 21, and February 6, 2019 votes. The official turnover from the ARMM to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is scheduled to take place on February 25, 2019 which meant the full abolition of the former. ^[58]

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See also

• 1977 Southern Philippines autonomous region creation plebiscite, plebiscite that created two autonomous regions in Mindanao
• 1989 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao creation plebiscite, plebiscite that created the ARMM
• 2001 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao expansion and inclusion plebiscite, plebiscite that expanded the ARMM