Most Pinoys against deferment of ARMM polls

MANILA, Philippines -  A little over half of Filipinos or 51 percent are against the postponement of elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed yesterday.

The SWS poll, conducted from March 4 to 7, found 51 percent of 1,200 respondents are not in favor of the postponement of the ARMM polls, while 24 percent wanted it deferred.

The SWS asked the respondents the question: “Do you agree or disagree with this statement: ‘The coming elections in the ARMM should not be postponed?’”

According to the survey released in the newspaper BusinessWorld yesterday, those who are against the poll postponement were recorded in all geographic areas except Mindanao, and among all socioeconomic classes and genders.

In Metro Manila, 56 percent said they were against the postponement of the ARMM polls; 53 percent in the Visayas; 52 percent in balance Luzon, and 47 percent in Mindanao.

Those in favor accounted for 29 percent in the Visayas, 25 percent in Metro Manila and Mindanao, and 21 percent in balance Luzon.

Nearly six in 10 Filipinos or 57 percent among the class ABC, 53 percent in class E, and 51 percent in class D or the masa also opposed the postponement of the ARMM elections.

Only 28 percent in class ABC, 25 percent in class D, and 20 percent of the masa supported a postponement.

The SWS poll also showed opposition outweighing support in urban (52 percent versus 26 percent) and rural (50 percent versus 21 percent) areas, and among men (55 percent versus 25 percent) and women (48 percent versus 23 percent).

The two chambers of Congress approved the proposal to postpone the Aug. 8 elections in the ARMM with the intention of synchronizing it with the May 2013 national elections.

President Aquino had certified the bill postponing the ARMM polls as urgent.

The Senate on Monday approved its version, while the House of Representatives on Tuesday accepted the Senate version of the measure to postpone the ARMM polls.