GMA ready to certify measure on 45-day delay of ARMM plebiscite

President Arroyo has expressed willingness to certify as urgent administration bill an en banc resolution by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) seeking to postpone for another 45 days the scheduled plebiscite next month in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) Secretary Gabriel Claudio told The STAR yesterday that President Arroyo was willing to endorse the Comelec resolution when Congress resumes its last regular session tomorrow before it adjourns sine die on June 7.

Claudio added that the Comelec resolution is purely administrative and non partisan.

He noted that the Comelec has already found authors and sponsors at the House to initiate the Congress concurrence to their requested 45-day postponement of the ARMM plebiscite.

"The Comelec asked for postponement of the ARMM plebiscite to be able to cope with the balance of their work in the just-concluded May 14 local and national elections," he said.

President Arroyo said earlier Congress may move to amend for the nth time the Organic Act to postpone the plebiscite which seeks to expand the coverage of the ARMM under Republic Act 2219.

RA 2219, it will be recalled, was not signed into law by President Arroyo but was made to lapse into law last March 28.

President Arroyo admitted this was because she was not completely in agreement with the new organic act which seeks to expand the ARMM coverage. — Marichu Villanueva