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COTABATO CITY — The recently concluded 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have concluded successfully, with no evidence of election failures, according to Atty. Ray Sumalipao, the regional director of the Commission on Elections (Comelec-BARMM).
Despite sporadic incidents, the electoral process was marked by its overall peaceful and credible nature, as more than 60% of barangay officials have already been proclaimed, showcasing the resilience and commitment of BARMM constituents to exercise their democratic rights.
“Specifically, we have 1,400 proclaimed barangay officials, while there are still 1,100 remaining officials with no proclamation,” Sumalipao said, a day after the 2023 BSKE.
The regional director clarified that the delayed results were due to the significant number of voters in large barangays with multiple precincts, as well as the active involvement of the candidates and their supporters, which occasionally resulted in minor incidents.
“Despite violence and untoward incidents, I would say that it’s generally peaceful and absolutely honest, orderly, and credible elections,” Sumalipao stressed.
The Bangsamoro regional poll official also mentioned Comelec’s plan to conduct a nationwide assessment, with the findings from the election observations to be released.
He particularly emphasized the need to deploy additional security personnel to serve in the Bangsamoro region.
He stressed the importance of placing the Bangsamoro constituents at the forefront of development to empower them as citizens of the BARMM.
“Our primary objective is to uplift the welfare of the residents in our barangays,” he stated.
Moreover, Sumalipao extended his gratitude to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), frontliners, volunteer teachers from the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (BARMM-MBHTE), and all stakeholders who contributed to the success of BSKE 2023.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. — Johamin Inok/BIO (✓)