Comelec endorses early ARMM polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) passed a resolution yesterday formally endorsing the holding of early elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), giving lawmakers the go-signal to pass bills seeking early polls in the region.

Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento explained that the pending bills in Congress could not be processed unless endorsed by the poll body.

Earlier this month, Makati Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr. petitioned the Comelec to endorse the bills.

“(We came up with the) resolution on the request of Makati congressman Locsin, that the Comelec should endorse these bills for immediate congressional action,” he said.

The Comelec is proposing that elections in the ARMM be held not later than April 12 next year, a month earlier than the May 10 elections. The bills propose that elections be held in the ARMM at least a week ahead of the rest of the nation.

“The Commission hereby resolves to urge both houses of Congress to immediately pass the Early Voting Bills; provided that elections will be conducted not later than April 12, 2010 in the ARMM and only for one day,” the resolution said.

The Comelec has been pushing for early elections in the ARMM so it can concentrate its efforts in the region plagued with poll fraud and election-related violence.

Sarmiento earlier said the Comelec is mandated by law to conduct synchronized elections nationwide.

Calls for early elections in the ARMM were revived after the massacre of 57 civilians in Maguindanao allegedly perpetrated by the Ampatuan clan that virtually controlled the region. The murders were attributed to the political rivalry between the Ampatuan and Mangudadatu clans.

After key members of the Ampatuan clan were arrested, Maguindanao was placed under martial law for a week. It remains under a state of emergency after military rule was lifted.        

There are three pending bills in Congress seeking early elections in the ARMM. These are Senate Bill 2972, authored by Sen. Richard Gordon, House Bill 5578 authored by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, and House Bill 3437 authored by Camiguin Rep. Pedro Romualdo.

The bills propose that residents vote in polling precints secured by military and police personnel

Poll watchdog National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) also urged the Comelec to hold early polls in ARMM to ensure the conduct of peaceful elections.

“We agree with the goals and purposes of early voting in the foregoing bills... The goal of early voting is principally to increase participation and relieve congestion of polling precincts on election day,” Comelec said in the resolution.

Acting Maguindanao governor Nariman Ambolodto favors the conduct of early elections in the ARMM to impose order in the province.

“This can ensure clean and orderly election in the province,” Ambolodto said in her first news conference at the provincial capital of Shariff Aguak.

“This way the Comelec could concentrate fully on their job if they hold polling in the ARMM ahead of the rest of the country next year,” she added. - With John Unson