Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia delivers his keynote message during the ceremonial turnover of the Special Geographic Areas (SGA) plebiscite results at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao de Norte on April 15, 2024. (Benyamen Cabuntalan/BIO)
COTABATO CITY—Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia stressed on April 15 the fresh start that awaits the Special Geographic Area (SGA) after its successful plebiscite for the creation of towns in the area.
This was shared during the COMELEC’s ceremonial turnover of the plebiscite results on the same day at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao del Norte.
On April 13, 2024, the Cotabato Province conducted a plebiscite, ratifying the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act Nos. 41–48 that created eight municipalities in SGA, namely Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan.
“It is not enough that (almost) 73,000 residents voted for us. We need to prove to them that they didn’t make a mistake in casting their votes for us and that we further ought to prove to those 273 people who voted ‘NO’ that this is the new beginning for the SGA,” said Garcia.
Based on the COMELEC’s data, a total of 72,358 residents favored the creation of the eight new SGA towns, equivalent to 81.10% of the total registered voters or 89,564 individuals, and only 273 people voted otherwise.
Garcia also mentioned that the Bangsamoro peace process played a pivotal role in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim. Mindanao’s (BARMM) peace and order, particularly in sustaining conflict-free elections.
On March 27, 2014, the National Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB)—the final peace accord between the parties that ended their decades-long armed conflict.
Garcia continued that it is expected for the May 2025 elections to have early voting for vulnerable voters such as the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs), among others, from 5-7a.m.
The Chairman added that the first-ever internet voting for Filipinos outside the country will also be available next year.
During the event, COMELEC’s Register Anywhere Program (RAP) was also introduced which accommodates the registration for first-time voters and/or transferring the place of registration of existing voters, which promotes their right to suffrage under the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines.
Evolving a strong, responsive, and relevant BARMM bureaucracy through the enactment of legislation aligns with the first priority agenda of Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim. (Johamin Inok/BIO)
