WHEREAS, on 17 August 2023, the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMm) enacted the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) Nos. 41 and 48 (s. 2023), creating the municipalities of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan in the BARRM, respectively;

WHEREAS, on 4 September 2023, the Chief Minister of the BARMM approved BAA Nos. 41 and 48;

WHEREAS, on 28 February 2024, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) En Banc, through Resolution No. 10980, resolved to request Presidential concurrence in the deputation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government for the 13 April 2024 plebiscites to ratify the creation of the abovementioned eight (8) municipalities.

WHEREAS, Section 2(4), Article IX-C of the Constitution empowers the COMELEC to deputize law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, such as the AFP and PNP, to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections, subject to the concurrence of the President;

WHEREAS, Section 18, Article VII of the Constitution provides that the President shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all armed forced of the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, Section 17, Article VII of the Constitution vests in the President the power of control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR., President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution and exiting laws, and as requested in COMELEC Resolution No. 10980, hereby CONCUR with the COMELEC's deputation of the AFP, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government in connection with the 13 April 2024 plebiscites to ratify the creation of municipalities of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan in the BARMM.

The foregoing law enforcement agencies and other concerned agencies are hereby directed to coordinate and cooperate with the COMELEC in the performance of their duties and functions, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 8th day of April, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.

 

(SGD.) FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR.

 

By  the President:

(SGD.) LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Executive Secretary