Postponement of ARMM elections to provide Comelec time to cleanse voters' list/introduce reforms

The government expressed hope that the postponement of the scheduled
elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) this August
will provide ample time for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to cleanse
the voters’ list as well as dismantle the remaining private armed groups in the
region.
In a media briefing in Malacanang on Monday, Interior and Local Government
Secretary Jesse Robredo said that part of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s
goals is to institute long-term electoral reforms in the country’s poorest region
beyond 2016.
He said that through the postponement of ARMM elections the government
will be able to push through with the reforms that will eventually lead to the
development and improvement of the quality of life of the people in the
ARMM.
“We are looking at reforms that will go beyond 2016 even if the
administration's term has already ended”, Robredo said.
“So what do we intend to do kung ma-postpone… we are given the
opportunity to introduce reforms, we would like to clean up the electoral
process. Nais namin na linisin muna ang voters’ list, magsagawa ng programa
na matuto
yung mamamayan ng paraan para mas magkaron ng kahulugan yung kanyang
boto,” he added.
Robredo also said that the government is considering the establishment of a
satellite regional office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Sulu.
“We would also like to dismantle all the private armed groups, right now there
are 41 more than half or almost half of the private armed groups in the
country… that we are looking at establishing a satellite PNP regional command
office in Sulu”, Robredo said.
Robredo likewise noted that the 20-month postponement, to synchronize
ARMM elections with the May 2013 mid-term elections, will also allow the
administration to strengthen the bureaucracy in the region.
“Meron nang ginagawang personnel audit, palagay ko maaaring linisin yung
beaurokrasya…,” Robredo said.
Aside from the reforms within ARMM’s provincial government, Robredo said
that there should also be an oversight body that will monitor the continuance
of the positive changes in governance particularly on the swift implementation
developmental projects in the region.
“Maliban sa inayos natin ang pamamahala sa loob, mayrong oversight bodies
na tumitingin kung talagang inaayos ang trabaho…kasama nito ay maisagawa
na yung mga delopmental projects sa ARMM,” Robredo said.
Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles
for her part said the postponement of elections in the ARMM will likewise
“facilitate” the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
“The postponement will provide us with flexibility. We are hopeful to arrive at
something within 18 months, a reasonable timeframe that is within the 20-
month postponement,” Deles said.
The MILF has already submitted its draft comprehensive pact to the
government panel which includes a proposal on territory in which the ARMM
will be the core bloc.
The government is drafting its counterproposal which will be submitted in June
during the exploratory talks in Kuala Lumpur.
“The ARMM is the core territory. The MILF as well as the Moro National
Liberation Front, at the very least, we will not object to the postponement,”
Deles said.