Plan to defer ARMM polls gets mixed views from various sectors

(Updated 10:30 a.m.) MANILA, Philippines - Plans to postpone the conduct of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections slated for August 11 gained support from various groups, but also opposition from various sectors - triggering a debate whether the deferment should push through. In a radio interview, Marawi Bishop Edwin dela Peña on Wednesday expressed support for the proposed suspension of the ARMM elections, saying the ongoing peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is much more important than the conduct of the ARMM polls. “Pabor ako na ma-postpone muna at hintayin natin kung ano talaga ang punto, kung ano talaga ang objective nitong peace process na ito. Kasi mas malawak ang reporma na hinihingi ng MILF para sa Muslim Mindanao," dela Peña said during an interview on radio Veritas. On Tuesday, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo endorsed the postponement of the ARMM elections since this is the one of the conditions lodged by the MILF for the peace talks to push through. According to dela Peña, the creation of the ARMM failed to bring benefits to the Moro people, and instead brought further disappointments and frustration to the people. “ARMM has been a disappointment to so many people who expected so much, para sa sistemang ito. Kaya kung ako ang tatanungin, kung ang opinion ko ang hihingin, mas pabor ako na i-postpone muna ang eleksyon at mas tutukan natin ng pansin ang nagaganap na peace negotiation," dela Peña. Asked what are these disappointments, the prelate cited problems on the delivery of social services to Muslims as well as the rampant corruption in the ARMM government. “Very frustrating ang experience namin sa Muslim Mindanao, sa system ng ARMM dahil imbes na mapapabilis ang delivery ng social service, wala rin naman social service na nakikita. Imbes na mapapalapit ang gobyebyerno sa taong bayan, wala - the system of corruption is there, mas malala pa nga ang system ng corruption," dela Peña said. Moreover, the bishop asserted that only the politicians are the once pushing for the ARMM elections because they will benefit from it. “Ang ARMM naman kasi ay parang sa totoo lang hindi naman talaga ito ang tunay na hinihingi ng ating mga kapatid na Muslim na reporma para sa governance kasi ang ARMM ay, sad to say, parang pagbibigay lamang ng structure to the system, na sila ang namumuno sa ARMM, pero hindi naman talaga nakapagbibigay ng tulong sa nakararami," dela Peña said. Instead, dela Pena said Congress should enact a law that would extend the terms of the incumbent officials in ARMM but this should last until the peace negotiations ended. “It would need a kind of legislation from Congress, para ma extend ng konti ang kanilang term but it would not be a long-term of extension," dela Peña said. Also on Wednesday, the MILF welcomed President Arroyo's support for postponing elections in ARMM, saying it would boost the peace process with government. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu said the rebel group's bid for the postponement of the ARMM elections stemmed from the Front's push for added territories in the ARMM. "Para ito sa Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. May idadagdag, dagdagan lang ng ilang teritoryo, in the hundreds (of villages or towns) (This is for the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity. We wanted to add several territories to ARMM, in the hundreds of villages or towns)," Kabalu said in an interview on dzXL radio. On the other hand, Henrietta de Villa, chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), opposed to the postponement of the ARMM elections saying this will be a waste of money, time and resources. De Villa asserted that if the government will defer the conduct of the August 11 polls, it would show that the government is not really serious in putting reforms in the electoral process, particularly the automation of the of the elections. “Parang umurong na naman tayo na maisulong ang electoral reform, yung pagpo-postpone at pagka-cancel ay parang ang batas ay hindi natin binibigyan ng sapat na pagpapahalaga kasi, on again off again yung pag enforced sa batas, nade-devalue ang pagpapahalaga sa batas," said de Villa. De Villa, also the newly appointed chairman of citizens’ arm National Citizens Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), pointed out that postponement will bring disappointment to the people that are hoping to see reform in the electoral process. “Masyadong madi-disappoint na naman sila at parang wala na namang proseso kasi hindi na naman nakukunsulta ang tao eh handing handa na eh, naghahanda na lahat at ang dami ng test na nangyari," de Villa said. For his part, Sen. Richard Gordon said postponing the ARMM elections is not that easy, saying Congress is already pressed for time to amend the law with with less than a month to go before the scheduled polls. Gordon, who chairs the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and revision of laws, said two weeks may not be enough for both houses of Congress to hammer out a law to postpone the polls. “Kung babaguhin ang batas kailangan pumayag ang Lower House at Senado (pero) mukhang mahihirapan na, Aug. 11 na," Gordon said in an interview on dzRH radio, adding that not even President Arroyo can have the power to order the Commission on Elections to postpone the polls as the Comelec is an independent body. Comelec chairman Jose Melo had earlier expressed objection to the postponement, saying he believes that the ARMM elections will be the test case for the poll body to determine its readiness to implement an automated elections in the 2010 presidential polls. - GMANews.TV