Ochoa: Palace may support candidate in ARMM polls

While some senators are showing no inclination to support the postponement of the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Aquino administration is considering throwing its support to a candidate. “I don't want to preempt the President on that, but that is part of the discussion din siguro," Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa told reporters on Wednesday. He said the deadline for the filing of certificate of candidacy lapsed last Wednesday and because of this, if the elections would push through they would need to pick someone who has already filed a COC. “So if we were to pick one to support, (we) will be bound by the list of those who filed [their COCs]," he said. There were at least 14 aspirants for the gubernatorial post and 16 for the vice gubernatorial post, including Margarita "Tingting" Cojuangco, the aunt of President Benigno Aquino III. President Aquino earlier said it would be "illogical" for his administration to field a candidate when it is working for the postponement of the elections. "Paano kami magwo-work on the postponement and to have candidate at the same time?" he said. Aquino had certified urgent the bill seeking the postponement of the ARMM elections slated for August 8 and synchronizing it with the midterm elections in 2013. The House of Representatives had already approved the bill on third and final reading. The Senate is set to deliberate on the bill Wednesday. — LBG/KBK, GMA News