BOL info drive on track, sectoral groups listed as next ‘targets’

THE Commission on Election (Comelec) on Thursday said its information drive for the plebiscite of Republic Act (RA) 11054, also known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), next month enters it second phase and is now targeting listed sectoral groups.

In an ambush interview, Comelec Spokesman James B. Jimenez addressed the concerns of the poll watchdog Legal Network of Truthful Elections (Lente) that it is still lagging behind in its duty to inform voters about the plebiscite.

He stressed they have been holding pulong-pulong, or barangay assemblies, for the general public in areas covered by the plebiscite since November, contrary to the claims of the group Lente that the poll body has yet to hold such meetings.

“Our internal BOL Committee already gave a directive to our field officials to conduct the pulong-pulong,” Jimenez said.

In fact, he added, the Comelec started this week the second part of its information campaign, which now aims to train representatives of certain sectors like women and youth.

“People already know there will be a plebiscite...it is on the individual concepts [of BOL] where their awareness vary,” Jimenez said.

Complicated ballots

DURING the pulong-pulong, Jimenez said they orient the public on how to appreciate the mechanics of the ballot and the importance of answering all of the questions in it.

“That ballot is complicated .... Some have a simple yes or no question, but others have as much as 11 questions,” Jimenez explained.

“The danger is some [voters] will not answer all of the questions. This will lead to an insufficient results,” he added.

The Comelec will be using multiple versions of the ballots for the BOL plebiscites.

Under the provision of RA 11054, the result of the plebiscite will determine the areas in Mindanao, which will become part of the soon-to-be created Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), replacing the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The plebiscite will be held in areas currently covered by the ARMM, as well as areas “contiguous” to it and would like to become part of BARMM.

For ARMM areas, except for the province of Basilan, the majority of the voters would simply have to vote “yes” to indicate they are in favor of the ratification of the BOL to become part of the BARMM.

But for contiguous areas to be included in BARMM, the majority of its voters, as well as those in the areas where it is originally part of, must favor the change.

The Comelec has yet to release the final list of these contiguous areas. Limited coverage

DESPITE efforts in information dissemination for the BOL, Jimenez explained their role in the process is only restricted to its election aspect.

He pointed out members or representatives of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) handles the explanation of provisions of the BOL.

“They are subject matter experts on that...what we do is only provide them the vehicle [for the information drive] by inviting them in the pulong-pulong,” Jimenez said.

Jimenez noted they also try to invite groups, which are in favor and against the BOL plebiscite, in the pulong-pulong to ensure the public will be able to make an informed choice on the matter.

He said they will continue holding the pulong-pulong until the plebiscites take place on January 21 and February 6 in 2019.

To further expand the coverage of its pulong-pulong, Comelec will be signing on Friday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process and the BTC.

The poll body is also scheduled to release a comics-based primers two weeks before the plebiscite to provide additional information to voters about the said process.