No midterm polls in ARMM — Comelec

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no election of local officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on May 13, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In Resolution 10512 promulgated on Monday, the poll body said the positions of governor, vice governor and members of the ARMM legislative assembly in ARMM were “abolished” when Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), which also created the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), was ratified in a plebiscite last month.

The ARMM is composed of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao.

During the plebiscite on the BARMM, voters have rejected proposals to make Isabela City in Basilan part of the expanded ARMM even as they approved the inclusion of Cotabato City.

The Comelec said the ARMM was not included in the officials ballots in the May polls, noting that printing started after the plebiscite on the BOL was conducted.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez had earlier said residents of BARMM would still vote on May 13, but they would use the regular ballot.

President Duterte will appoint the officials who will run the BARMM during a three-year transition period, or until 2022.

Under the same Comelec Resolution, Southern Leyte was divided into two legislative districts as provided under Republic Act 11198.

The first legislative district shall be composed of Maasin City and the towns of Macrohon, Padre Burgos, Limasawa, Malitbog, Tomas Oppus and Bontoc.

The second district shall be composed of the municipalities of Sogod, Libagon, Liloan, San Francisco, Pintuyan, San Ricardo, Saint Bernard, Anahawan, San Juan, Hinundayan, Hinunangnan and Silago.