Robredo confirms plan to defer ARMM polls
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo has confirmed a plan to postpone the holding of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and instead synchronize these with the national elections in 2013.
Robredo said the proposal could be drafted in the next two weeks and will be presented to Congress.
He said the Aquino administration is working to improve the governance of the ARMM.
Robredo said the plan to postpone the ARMM elections “is not a priority but (borne) out of necessity,” as this would reduce expenditures on holding too many elections.
The proposed resetting of the ARMM polls scheduled in August this year was met with varied reactions. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangungudatu said the plan should be carefully assessed.
“It will be good if the intention is really to avoid incurring huge expenditure but if it is only to please and to groom somebody else I think we have to go on with the election,” he said.
Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, however, said the ARMM should be dissolved if only to solve the dismal governance of the region.
Tan has been vocal against what he said was the failure of regional programs to reach the provinces comprising the autonomous region.
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