Lawmakers to question ARMM poll bill before SC

MANILA, Philippines - Muslim congressmen opposed to the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) yesterday vowed to question the deferment bill before the Supreme Court (SC) if Congress approves it.

Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong said in a radio interview yesterday he and several colleagues from Mindanao would challenge any decision to defer the ARMM vote from August this year to May 2013.

He said the postponement measure, House Bill 4146, would in effect amend the law creating the autonomous Muslim region in that it would change the start of the three-year term of office of the region’s officials.

“The term of office of officials of the autonomous region is (proposed to be) changed from Sept. 30 after their election under the Autonomy Act to June 30, 2013 after the elections in May of that year. That is a substantial change,” he said.

Datumanong added that even the provision in HB 4146 to allow President Aquino to appoint caretaker officials would be an amendment to the Autonomy Act.

Datumanong argued that under the Autonomy Law, any amendment to such statute would have to be approved by Congress by a two-thirds vote of all its members.

It would also have to be submitted to the ARMM voters in a plebiscite for their approval or rejection, he said.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., who chairs the House committee on suffrage and electoral reform and principal sponsor of HB 4146, has warned his colleagues that if the measure, when enacted, is challenged before the courts, the administration would have no choice but to hold the ARMM vote in August.

“We are running out of time. August is fast approaching. This bill still has to go to the Senate, unless senators approve a counterpart bill simultaneously with the House. After that, it will go to the President. Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is rushing preparations and spending precious taxpayers’ money,” Barzaga said.

Assuming Congress approves it and the President signs the bill into law, he said those opposing it could question it before the courts.

“If that happens, then the ARMM elections will most likely push through in August as scheduled,” he said.

On Wednesday night, the House of Representatives failed to pass HB 4146 for lack of quorum.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda expressed hope though that the House would vote on HB 4146 before Congress takes a break next week, or on March 25.

“We’re hoping to secure a vote before the recess. This is a time-bound legislation. And this has been certified urgent by the President during the LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) meeting,” Lacierda said.

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes is hopeful that the poll body will not be caught off-guard whether or not Congress decides to postpone the ARMM polls.

“Preparation has long been underway although the issue is still pending (in Congress). We didn’t stop preparing,” Brillantes said in an interview on the sidelines of a testimonial dinner organized for him by his alma mater, San Beda College.

The poll body’s preparations include the purchase of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines that will be used in ARMM and the holding of voter’s education in the region.

“Whatever happens, we want to be ready. Even if we will be told (by Congress that the election will not push through), it is still better that we are prepared than rush things,” he added. – With Delon Porcalla, Sheila Crisostomo