PPCRV: Poll watchdog groups not keen on postponing ARMM elections

Poll watchdog groups in the Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are not keen on postponing the August 8 elections there, a Church-backed poll group said Monday. The Parish Pastoral Council on Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said most of its 16 partners in the ARMM are in favor of the conduct of the August 8 polls as scheduled. “We didn’t make an extensive survey but only among our partners if they want it postponed or not… so far, the feedback is they want it to push through," PPCRV chairwoman Henrietta de Villa said in an article posted on the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) news site . She said the assessment was based on a report from PPCRV-ARMM Chairman Fr. David Procalla. De Villa also said they will come up with a “more extensive survey" on the ARMM voters’ sentiments on the matter soon. The result will then be presented to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and if possible to Congress for consideration, she said. Among the PPCRV's partner groups are the Citizens Coalition for Electoral Reforms, the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society, Bangsamoro Women Solidarity Forum Inc., Bangsamoro Lawyers Network, Bishops-Ulama Conference, and the Federation of United Mindanawan Bangsamoro Women Multi-Purpose Cooperative. De Villa earlier said she favors the postponement of the ARMM elections so the Comelec can have more time to prepare for it. She also said they are supporting proposals for the synchronization of the ARMM polls with the 2013 midterm elections. The CBCP noted the House of Representatives' committees on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms and on Muslim Affairs approved a bill seeking the postponement of the ARMM polls. – VVP, GMA News