DILG: Selection of ARMM OICs to continue

ZAMBOANGA CITY ,Philippines  – The government will proceed with the selection of candidates for officers-in-charge (OICs) for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao despite the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on the synchronization of the ARMM polls with the 2013 elections.

“Ours is more of preparation. We need to complete the process,” Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo told journalists here yesterday at the resumption of the public forum with those seeking to be ARMM OICs.

Saying the Supreme Court is not expected to take long to come up with a final ruling, the DILG chief also suggested that the Commission on Elections wait for it, before proceeding with its preparations for the holding of ARMM elections.

“So, if I were the commission, instead of spending money to prepare I will just wait for the final resolution of the Supreme Court then set a date after the said resolution is promulgated if and when this time we should continue with the election,” Robredo said.

Meanwhile, Robredo said he believes he was not the target of the bombing last week in Cotabato. But he said the incident could be aimed at disrupting the selection of ARMM OICs.

Chief Superintendent Bienvenido Latag, ARMM police regional director, said that based on the information they received, the motive for the bombing could be more political than terrorism.

The public forum for those seeking to become acting ARMM governor resumed here amid tight security, following last week’s bombing incident.

Robredo said the shortlist of eight candidates for acting ARMM governor will be reduced to three for the final selection to be made by President Aquino.