Marawi to hold plebiscites on creation of 2 new barangays after 2017 siege
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 16) - Marawi City in Lanao del Sur will conduct two plebiscites on Saturday to ratify the creation of barangays Boganga Il and Datu Dalidigan.
In a statement on Thursday, the Commission on Election (Comelec) said the creation of the two barangays is a direct result of the displacement of residents in the 2017 siege by Islamic militants.
"The creation of two (2) new Barangays are the direct resultant effects of the Marawi Siege, which led to a significant increase in the population on account of internally displaced persons, all of whom are now permanent actual inhabitants whose welfare will be catered to by the newly-created barangay paramount local government units," Comelec said.
Local and foreign militants wanting to establish territory that will form part of a caliphate in Southeast Asia took over the city in May 2017. Fierce battles raged for five months until the predominantly Islamic city was liberated by the military in October that year.
Under City Ordinance 07-010 of 2020, Barangay Boganga II is proposed to be created from Barangay Boganga, which has a population of 6,320 and 992 registered voters, Comelec said.
Meanwhile, under City Ordinance 05-010 of 2022, Barangay Datu Dalidigan is proposed to be established from Barangay Sagonsongan, which has a population of 7,137 and 480 voters.
Since 2017, Marawi had already participated in three elections: the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, and the 2019 and 2022 National and Local Elections.
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