Arroyo signs into law a legislation rescheduling the elections in Mindanao

By Rexcel Sorza, IOL Correspondent

MANILA, September 24 (IslamOnline.net) – The decision to put off elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) from November to August next year was welcomed by many in the Philippines, as it would save the country $5.3 million on the eve of a financial crisis, and it would also contribute to peace efforts.

Hadji Najim, a native resident of Lanao del Sur province in ARMM, said “it is alright for the government to postpone the election in ARMM to save money. After all, 300 million pesos ($1=P56) is quite a big amount especially now that the country is in a crisis.”

President Gloria Arroyo on September 21 signed into law the first bill passed by Congress fixing the election of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao on August 8, 2005. It was the first law passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 13th Congress.

The terms of office of the ARMM officials, who would be elected next year, shall commence at noon of September 30, 2005. The succeeding regular ARMM elections would then be held on the same date every three years.

The ARMM election for regional governor, vice governor and members of the Legislative Assembly had been reset five times since the first regular election in November 2001.

In signing the bill into law, President Arroyo said that the law’s enactment proved the “sincerity and concern of the national government for the peace, stability and progress of the [ARMM], and for all Muslim communities in the Philippines.”

Peace, not Polls

Najim told IslamOnline.net Thursday, September 23, “it seems that my fellow Muslims are not very much concerned with the ARMM election because what we are after is peace and progress. If this could bring peace, if the MILF [Moro Islamic Liberation Front] joins in the election next year, it would be best for all of us.”

House Speaker Jose de Venecia said that the postponement of elections gives the government at least P300 million in savings and enhances prospects of a peace settlement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is fighting for an independent Islamic state.

De Venecia called the move “a strategic postponement because of the current budget deficit” and ongoing efforts between the government and MILF to negotiate a final peace agreement.

De Venecia said the postponement would significantly reduce the “divisiveness and negative politics” in the Muslim region and would save another P300 million from election expenses of candidates in the regional elections.

“Now the government (GRP) and the MILF peace panels are in the final stages of working out a peace agreement, the polls’ postponement would not only contribute to political stability in the region but also help ample time for credible, clean and honest elections in 2005,” de Venecia said in a statement received by IslamOnline.net September 23.

Optimism

Rep. Gerry Salapuddin expressed optimism that the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front would conduct and sign a comprehensive peace accord so that the latter can participate to have enduring peace in Mindanao.

ARMM is a region located in the southern portion of Mindanao and includes the mainland provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao and the traditional island centers of Muslim economic, political and cultural activities: Sulu and Tawi-Tawi in the Sulu archipelago.

It covers 12,000 square kilometers, an area about four percent of the country's total land area and has a population of more than two million predominantly Muslim inhabitants.

Considered the 15th region of the Philippines, it was created on November 6, 1990 by Republic Act 6734 during the administration of then Philippine President Corazon Aquino, to end the struggle of Moro National Liberation Front for an independent Islamic state in southern Philippines.