Comelec moves date of ARMM election period, filing of COCs

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has moved the date of the election period and filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the Aug. 8, 2011 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) polls. Comelec Resolution 9218, promulgated Wednesday, said the filing of COCs has been moved to May 19 to 23, 2011. It was originally set on May 14 to 17, 2011. "There is a need to reset the aforementioned periods to afford more time for the pre-election preparations for the elections in the ARMM," the poll body said in the resolution. It likewise said that the period for holding political conventions intended to select and nominate official party candidates for the elections must be held not later than May 18, 2011. COCs for regional governor and regional vice governor must be filed at the Office of the ARMM Regional Election Director while COCs for members of Regional Legislative Assembly must be filed at the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor concerned. Filing shall be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., even on Saturday and Sunday. Election period On the other hand, Comelec Resolution 9219, also promulgated Wednesday, effectively moved the election period for the ARMM polls to June 9 to Sept. 7, 2011. It was originally set on May 10 to Sept. 7, 2011. "There is a need to reset the aforementioned periods to afford more time to prepare and review guidelines for the conduct of the elections to ensure a credible election in the ARMM," said the resolution. During the election period, the bearing, carrying or transporting firearms and deadly weapons shall not be allowed in the ARMM. The use of bodyguards and security personnel of candidates shall likewise be prohibited. According to the Comelec, there are 1,778, 817 registered voters in the ARMM. Fate of the ARMM polls The Comelec resolutions came at a time when Congress has yet to decide the fate of the ARMM elections. The postponement of the ARMM elections is among the priority bills of President Benigno Aquino III, who wants it to be synchronized with the May 2013 national elections. The House of Representatives had earlier approved the measure calling for the postponement of the ARMM polls. But in the Senate, local government committee chairman Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Wednesday that he still has to conduct several more consultations before his panel can come out with a report. — RSJ, GMA News