Plebiscite for Sulu reinclusion in BARMM not feasible - Comelec

Holding a plebiscite to reinclude Sulu in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is no longer feasible this year, according to the Commission on Elections.

- - Mayen Jaymalin, Marc Jayson Cayabyab

Comelec Chairman George Garcia made the statement during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday, in reaction to a Senate proposal to reinclude Sulu in the BARMM.

"If it is passed into law, the decision lies in the people through a plebiscite," Garcia said, adding that reinstating Sulu in the BARMM is complicated and requires a long process.

He said the Supreme Court ruling on the Sulu exclusion is final and executory, and the seats in the BARMM parliament allocated to Sulu will be distributed to representatives of other provinces.