Place ARMM under state of emergency - Zubiri

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri recommended yesterday that the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) be placed under a state of emergency if only to enable the national government to quell violence in the area in the run-up to the ARMM elections this August.

Zubiri made the recommendation amid the Palace-backed proposal to postpone the ARMM elections to allow the government to institute reforms in the hotly contested region.

Zubiri rejected the justification provided by various government officials, including Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, on why the ARMM polls should be rescheduled and synchronized with the 2013 national elections.

During the public hearing of the Senate committee on local government chaired by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last Thursday, Robredo said there is a need to conduct a thorough audit of how ARMM funds were used during the term of former governor Datu Zaldy Uy Ampatuan, who was implicated in the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. 

Zubiri echoed the sentiment of some senators who believe that the Senate resolution filed by Sen. Franklin Drilon shortly after the break to support House Bill 4146 calling for the ARMM elections’ postponement, may not be tackled for lack of time.  

The filing of certificates of candidacy for the ARMM polls starts on May 2, while Congress resumes session on May 9 with the Senate convening as an impeachment court to start the trial of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.

Zubiri added that the cleansing of the voters’ list is also being done in preparation for the ARMM elections. 

“The Comelec can require all voters to re-register in the next two months before the elections of the ARMM with proper funding, so there is no need for the postponement of the elections,” Zubiri said.

On the argument that the ARMM polls be deferred to stop violence, Zubiri suggested that the region be placed under a state of emergency.

“Put the ARMM in state of emergency, then increase the number of our armed groups there, come up with the dismantling of the private armies. The power of the police and the AFP still lies within the hands of the national government. They can do that without postponing the ARMM elections and appointing officials of their preference,” Zubiri said.