ANGARA URGES PEACEFUL, CREDIBLE VOTE AHEAD OF BOL PLEBISCITE

Senator Sonny Angara called for a "peaceful and credible" plebiscite for the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) that is taking place on January 21.

"We call on all stakeholders to ensure that the plebiscite is conducted in a peaceful and credible manner," said Angara, who co-sponsored the BOL in the Senate as chairman of its Committee on Local Government.

Angara likewise urged the Bangsamoro people to turn out in the largest numbers for the referendum that would determine the fate of the BOL, which provides for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

"We urge our Bangsamoro brothers and sisters to go out and vote and make their voices heard," Angara said.

The lawmaker called the plebiscite a "significant milestone" towards ending decades-old armed conflict in Muslim Mindanao and creating a new political entity that would genuinely fulfill the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people.

"Ito ang natatanging hakbang upang sa wakas ay magkaroon na ng katuparan ang layunin nating masolusyunan ang mga 'di pagkakaunawaan at nang sa gayon ay umusad ang kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa Bangsamoro region," Angara said.

Once ratified, the BOL will pave the way for the replacement of the 29-year-old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with BARMM.

The BARMM is envisioned as a political entity that would realize the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people for genuine self-determination under a ministerial form of government and ensure autonomy far more than what the present ARMM provides.

It is seen as a solution to the problems that the ARMM failed to address, such as poverty and unstable peace and order situation.