ARTICLE XV
PLEBISCITE
Section 1. Establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. – The establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the determination of its territorial jurisdiction shall take effect upon ratification of this Organic Law by majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the following:
(a) The present geographical area known as the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao created under Republic Act No. 6734, as amended by Republic Act No. 9054, which shall subsist as such until this Organic Law is ratified through a plebiscite;
(b) The municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in the Province of Lanao del Norte that voted for inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the 2001 plebiscite.
(c) The following thirty-nine (39) barangays in the municipalities of Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan and Pikit in the Province of North Cotabato that voted for inclusion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during the 2001 plebiscite:
(1) Dunguan, Lower Mingading, and Tapodoc in the Municipality of Aleosan (3);
(2) Manarapan and Nasapian in the Municipality of Carmen (2);
(3) Nanga-an, Simbuhay, and Sanggadong in the Municipality of Kabacan (3)
(4) Damatulan, Kadigasan, Kadingilan, Kapinpilan, Kudarangan, Central Labas, Malingao, Mudseng, Nabalawag, Olandang, Sambuwalan, and Tugal in the Municipality of Midsayap (12);
(5) Lower Baguer, Balacayon, Buricain, Datu Binasing, Kadingilan, Matilac, Patot, and Lower Pangangkalan in the Municipality of Pigkawayan (8);
(6) Bagoinged, Balatican, S. Balong, S. Balongis, Batuwalan, Buliok, Gokotan, Kabasalan, Lagunde, Macabual, and Macasendeg in the Municipality of Pikit (11);
(7) The City of Cotabato;
(8) The City of Isabela in the Province of Basilan; and
(9) Those qualified for inclusion in the plebiscite, by way or resolution or petition.
Section 2. Period of Plebiscite. – The plebiscite herein mentioned shall be conducted not earlier than ninety (90) days nor later than one hundred fifty (150) days after the effectivity of this Organic Law.
For this purpose, the Commission on Elections shall undertake the necessary steps to enable the holding of plebiscite within the period.
Section 3. Results of the Plebiscite. –
(a) The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region shall be established and all provinces and cities of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao created under Republic Act No. 6734, as amended by Republic Act No . 9054, shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region if the majority of the votes cast in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall be in favor of the approval of this Organic Law: Provided, That the provinces and cities of the present Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao shall vote as one geographical area.
(b) Any of the municipalities of Baloi, Munai, Nunungan, Pantar, Tagoloan, and Tangkal in the Province of Lanao del Norte that votes favorably for its inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region: Provided, That the majority of the votes cast in the Province of Lanao del Norte shall be in favor of the inclusion of the municipality in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
(c) Any of the barangays in the municipalities of Kabacan Carmen, Aleosan, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Midsayap as enumerated in paragraph (c) Section 1 of this Article that votes favorably for its inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region: Provided, That the majority of the votes cast in the municipality to which the barangay belongs shall be favor of the inclusion of the barangay in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
(d) The City of Cotabato shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region if the majority of the votes cast in the city shall be in favor of its inclusion.
(e) The City of Isabela in the Province of Basilan shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region if the majority of the votes cast in the city shall be in favor of its inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region: Provided, That the majority of the votes cast in the Province of Basilan shall be in favor of the inclusion of the City of Isabela in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
(f) Any other contiguous area where there is a resolution of the local government unit or a petition of at least ten percent (10%) of the registered voters in the local government unit asking for its inclusion at least two (2) months prior to the conduct of the ratification of this Organic Law shall form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region if the majority of the votes cast in the political units directly affected shall be in favor of the inclusion of the petitioning local government unit in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Section 4. Reconstitution of Local Government Units. The Parliament may, by law, provide for the reconstitution of geographical areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region into appropriate territorial or political subdivisions depending on the results of the plebiscite. Nothing herein shall be construed to allow the Parliament to create legislative districts.
Section 5. Plebiscite Questions. – The questions to be asked of the voters in the plebiscite shall be determined by the Commission on Elections.
Section 6. Plebiscite Monitoring. – The Commission on Elections shall provide for the accreditation of plebiscite monitors, including the international-domestic monitoring body created by the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace panels, in accordance with established international standards on election monitoring. The monitoring body shall have access to all operations related to the conduct of the plebiscite and conduct regular and random checks. The reports of the international-domestic monitoring body shall be made available to the peace panels for their disposition.
Section 7. Qualified Voters. – All registered voters in the provinces, cites, municipalities, and barangays mentioned under Section 1 and 3 of this Article shall be qualified to participate in the plebiscite on the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Section 8. Special Registration. – The Commission on Elections shall conduct a special registration before the date of plebiscite.
Section 9. Promulgation of Rules for the Conduct of Plebiscite. – The Commission on Elections shall promulgate rules necessary for the conduct of plebiscite, including those for the accreditation of plebiscite monitors, voluntary inclusion in the plebiscite, and the special registration of voters as provided herein, within fifteen (15) days from the effectivity of this Organic Law, with the primary objective of optimizing the opportunity for participation in the plebiscite of qualified voters in the areas specified for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Section 10. Information Campaigns. – The Commission on Elections shall supervise the conduct of information campaigns on the plebiscite, including sectoral campaigns for indigenous communities, women, youth, religious, professionals and public and private sector employees, in every barangay, municipality, city, and province where the plebiscite is to be conducted.
Public conferences, assemblies, or meetings on dates before the plebiscite day itself shall be held to inform the residents thereof regarding the significance and meaning of the plebiscite and to help them to cast their votes intelligently. Free, full, and constructive discussion and exchange of views on the issues shall be encouraged.
For this purpose, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission shall assist in the information dissemination campaign. Such campaign shall be without prejudice to other information dissemination and public advocacy initiatives by the other government or nongovernment groups or individuals.
For the information campaigns and other public advocacy initiatives with indigenous communities, local leaders shall be engaged to lead discussions in their respective communities.
Public advocacy initiatives shall be conducted within the framework of solidarity, cooperation, and unity among Bangsamoro people, non-Moro indigenous peoples, and settler communities. Consultations shall give due respect to the roles of non-Moro indigenous and Moro women, and encourage their active participation.
Section 11. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to provide for the requirements of the conduct of the plebiscite, including the monitoring, information campaign, and the registration of voters shall be charged against available funds in the current General Appropriations Act.