Incumbent ARMM execs to stay until SC decides

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday said the current officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) would remain in their posts until the Supreme Court (SC) issues a ruling.

“If the (SC) does not issue a decision, we cannot appoint OICs (officers-in-charge),” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing.

“We are bound to respect the holdovers for now until the (SC) decides on the constitutionality of the ARMM postponement law,” he added.

President Aquino earlier had expressed frustration over the SC’s issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the implementation of Republic Act 10153 or the law suspending the elections in the ARMM to synchronize these with the 2013 polls.

The law passed by Congress also allowed Aquino to appoint OICs in various ARMM positions.

Over coffee with media Tuesday night at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo where he was billeted for his four-day official working visit to Japan, the President said holdover positions had been declared unconstitutional and thus the SC decision created a problem.

He also said he made a remark about the judiciary in his speech before the Filipino community last Sunday because the system he inherited would show that it would take six years to adjudicate a case and the conviction rate “is a paltry 14 percent.”

“We cannot appoint because of the TRO, so who will take over?” Aquino said. “That’s the point, they should tell me… Do you have cooperation? Why did we get into that? Don’t you think it’s better if there is continuity of government function within that decision?”

The President did not answer if it was his legal team that was the problem but stressed what they wanted was to change the culture in ARMM.

Aquino said corruption had been rampant in ARMM and 80 percent of the funds for it were misused, based on Commission on Audit findings.

At the maximum, he said there should only be 10 percent leakage in the budget, adding this was the reason why he emphasized ghost projects in the area.

Aquino said the goal was to synchronize the elections and allow those who did not have any intention to run to fix the system first before the 2013 polls.

“Whatever you do there, there will always be a question,” Aquino said. “But how do you make Mindanao peaceful?” he asked.

Aquino said the “beauty” of the power to appoint was that it also got the “power to fire” if the appointee was not able to carry on his or her obligations.

“If you don’t produce, you’re axed, if peace and order (problem) worsens, you are axed,” he said.

ARMM officials said they would stay in their posts to prevent a vacuum in the regional leadership if the SC does not rule with finality soon on RA 10153.

“We just have to wait for the SC’s decision,” said ARMM Executive Secretary Naguib Sinarimbo.

Sinarimbo though said they would facilitate the transition in the regional leadership if the SC so orders, adding they have long prepared for it.    – With John Unson