MILF won't disrupt ARMM polls in August - spokesman

MANILA, Philippines - Even if its bid to postpone elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) would fail, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) promised Saturday not to disrupt the electoral exercise on Aug. 11. MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu insisted the MILF has had no history of interfering in electoral exercises, and that it does not intend to break that "record." "Wala tayong history sa ganitong klaseng activity na nanggugulo tayo (We do not have a history of disrupting elections)," Kabalu said in an interview on DZXL. "Hindi tayo magpa-participate officially pero hinahayaan natin itong nagaganap na hindi nagmumula sa atin ang kaguluhan (We won’t participate officially in the election but we will make sure any disruption won’t come from our end)," he added. The MILF wants the Aug. 11 polls postponed to make way for a peace pact with government, where some areas will be added to the ARMM's territory. Citing lack of time, some senators seem not to show interest in crafting a counterpart bill of the measure filed at the House of Representatives, seeking postponement the ARMM polls. On the other hand, Kabalu hinted that Congress could do better than just go through the motions of crafting a law that may not be passed in time to halt the Aug. 11 elections. He said Congress, if it is serious, can stop the elections with a resolution. "They can do it in a couple of hours kung gugustuhin nila (if they really want), (they can come up with a) resolution to postpone, as simple as that," he said. "Sa palagay ko hindi mahirap gawin ito (I think it is relatively easy to craft that bill)," he added. - GMANews.TV