House lacks time to tackle ARMM poll deferment

COTABATO CITY — The House of Representatives is running out of time to tackle a proposal of Sulu Rep. Hussin Amin to postpone the Aug. 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on the behest of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datuma—nong, regional chairman of the Lakas-Christian, Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), said Congress will have its recess less than two weeks from now, thus the lawmakers may likely be unable to discuss Amin’s proposal.

Amin is a known ally of incumbent ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin, who has been on hold-over capacity since his term officially ended last September.

"In the meantime, the law that set the ARMM elections on Aug. 8 will hold. Only another law that declares another postponement can supersede that," Datumanong told reporters.

ARMM insiders, among them protégés of Hussin and the MNLF’s chairman, Regional Assemblyman Hatimil Hassan, said the front has asked the Organization of Islamic Conference to intercede and convince President Arroyo to defer the elections anew.

Hussin is seeking re-election. The Lakas-CMD has declared a free zone for party members in the regional polls.

Datumanong said another deferment of the regional elections will send a "bad signal" to the international community.

"The international community will perceive that we have a very weak autonomy for Muslims in Mindanao. The ARMM charter prescribes only a three-year term for all elected regional officials," he said.

The region’s business community is also opposed to another poll postponement.