ARMM polls postponement nixed

MANILA, Philippines - A prominent relative of President Aquino expressed strong opposition to the moves to delay the elections of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) scheduled this August by two years.

Former Tarlac governor Margarita “Ting-Ting” Cojuangco, who is an aunt of the President, issued the statement during a round-table discussion facilitated by Fr. Eliseo Mercado, executive director of the Institute for Autonomy for Governance.

Among those who attended the forum were Amina Rasul, former ARMM governor Parouk Hussin, and other ARMM officials, representatives from the Muslim Legal Aid Foundation, Institute for Political and Electoral Reforms and the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel).

Cojuangco, who is currently head of the Philippine Public Safety College, said the postponement as well as letting the incumbent officials hold on to their posts violates Section 8, Article 10 of the Constitution as well as the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Osmeña vs. Comelec.

She said any amendment to Republic Act 9054 or The Expanded ARMM Organic Act would require a plebiscite.

She said the pending House bills postponing the ARMM elections effectively amends RA 9054.

Cojuangco said the regular conduct of elections in ARMM would show that democracy is thriving in the country.

During the forum, Namfrel also opposed any move to delay the polls saying it would run counter to international standards for free and fair election and would lead to “a political vacuum.”

“Namfrel seeks to consult ARMM people if they agree or not to suspend the ARMM polls,” the poll watchdog said in a statement.

“However, postponing the ARMM elections for the eighth time also defeats the international standard of a free and fair election,” it said.

Meanwhile, Comelec Chair­man Sixto Brillantes is supportive of the calls of Malacañang to postpone the elections on ARMM to 2013.

In a chance interview at the Senate, Brillantes said the government can save about P2.2 billion budget for the ARMM elections if Congress allows its postponement of the polls.