MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Feb. 09 (PIA) --- The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) government headed by acting regional governor Ansaruddin Alonto-Adiong backs the postponement of the 2011 ARMM elections saying it is the most practical alternative that the national government can adopt.
In a statement, the autonomous regional government has proposed for the postponement to let the new administration solve conflict-related issues in the region.
It called for the postponement of the regional polls to a later date when issues related to the history of election violence and failures and on the ongoing peace process between the GRP and MILF as well as the GRP, OIC and MNLF Tripartite Review of the 1996 Final Peace Agreement are fully resolved.
The regional government believes that another election this year would only complicate unsolved social issues such as the absence yet of a negotiated political settlement and the worsening conduct of polls.
Further, elections have transformed the region into a violent arena dragging families and clans into feuds that goes on for countless years.
During the May 2010 national and local elections, eight towns in Lanao del Sur and two in Basilan declared failures of election. Four months later, in what many believe is election-related, a former mayor of Tugaya, Lanao del Sur was killed in an ambush. On November 20, 2010, the vice-mayor of Barira, Maguindanao was gunned down in Davao City. His death is also widely believed as connected to the recently conducted SK and barangay polls.
The regional government cited it is not surprising that special elections always have to be called for by the COMELEC. In June 23, 2010 seven municipalities in Lanao del Sur have to undergo special elections. Even the recent October 25, 2010 Barangay and SK Elections have not been spared either. A total of 178 barangays have to conduct special elections. Strikingly observable is the perennial low turn-out of voters that is attributable to election fatigue and the massive vote-buying.
The ARMM government also proposed the extension of the term of the incumbent ARMM elected officials citing it as the logical and publicly acceptable means of preserving the integrity of regional autonomy.
Earlier, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the postponement of the ARMM elections will be one of the 17 priority bills President Benigno Aquino III will present to lawmakers at the end this month.
He said the Aquino administration wants to prevent the abuses that happened in the past ARMM elections.
Under the bill, the next ARMM regular elections shall be held on the second Monday of May 2013.
The elected regional governor, vice governor and members of the regional legislative assembly will have a three-year term of office.
The bill also states that the incumbent officials of the ARMM shall hold office only until September 30, 2011.
The President will also appoint officers-in-charge who will be in post until the next officials are elected. However, the appointed officials shall be ineligible to run in the next regular elections.
Lacierda also said that the government would also save money with the holding the political exercise simultaneously with the midterm elections in May 2013. (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA 10 Marawi)
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