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Senate OKs postponement of ARMM polls citing reforms


The Senate on Monday night approved on third and final reading the bill postponing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections, originally scheduled on August 8, 2011. In a 13-7 vote, the chamber approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 2756 seeking to synchronize the ARMM polls with the May 2013 midterm national elections at past 10 p.m. The bill was approved on second reading with the same vote on the same night at around 9:45 p.m. The senators who voted for the measure were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore “Jinggoy" Estrada, Majority Floor Leader Vicente “Tito" Sotto III, and Senators Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Teofisto Guingona III, Francis Pangilinan, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Panfilo Lacson, Gringo Honasan, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, and Antonio Trillanes IV. For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV “I choose to support this administration’s desire to institute reforms in the region where poverty is the rule rather than the exception," said Cayetano. “Voting yes is allowing for the reforms to take place in the region. What we’re doing here is giving precisely democracy a chance to take root," added Pangilinan. On the other hand, those who voted against the bill were Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Joker Arroyo, Ferdinand “Bongbong" Marcos, Francis Escudero, Ramon “Bong" Revilla Jr., Edgardo Angara, and Sergio Osmeña III. “The majority may have won the vote but we have lost the Muslim vote. I think tonight we deprived the Moro people of its most precious right, the right to choose its leaders," said Arroyo. “Tonight I grieve the death of the rights of the (Muslim people). Democracy in ARMM died tonight. I vote a resounding no," added Zubiri. Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Manny Villar and Loren Legarda were not present during the voting. Debate The vote came after the Senate conducted intense debates over the postponement of the elections in ARMM. During the Monday’s plenary session, Zubiri said the postponement and synchronization of polls will infringe on ARMM’s autonomy. “The 1987 Constitution grants absolute autonomy to the ARMM and guarantees the right of ARMM to self-government," he said. Article X, Section 15 of the Constitution provides for the creation of the ARMM. But Drilon, as sponsor and author of SB 2756, said that autonomy is a “Constitutional principle" just like synchronization. “The conflict, if any, is not irreconcilable," he said. He likewise repeatedly emphasized that the Constitution provides for synchronized elections. Santiago, who just made a manifestation and did not ask any question, said that synchronization and local autonomy have equal weight. “Since all constitutional provisions enjoy equal dignity, synchronized elections and local autonomy should be harmonized and reconciled," she said on Monday. She noted, however, that Congress has the power to synchronize elections while the powers of ARMM are limited to those enumerated in Article X, Section 20 of the Constitution. “Congress has passed seven laws changing the date of ARMM elections. These laws constitute a long-continued practical construction by Congress," she said. Santiago likewise defended the appointing powers of the President, noting that the Supreme Court has declared as unconstitutional the existence of holdover officials. Angara, however, said that the issue of constitutionality was “arguable." Amendments Aside from the postponement of the ARMM elections, SB 2756 seeks to grant President Benigno Aquino III the power to appoint officers-in-charge in the ARMM government until new officials are elected in 2013. But since many lawmakers contested the constitutionality of the President's capacity to appoint OICs to elective positions, Estrada proposed the insertion of a provision providing for the manner and procedure of appointing OICs. Under the added provision, a special committee — in consultation with the House Speaker and Senate President — shall screen and recommend to the President the persons who will be appointed as OICs. However, Drilon also proposed during the period of amendments the deletion of the provision barring the OICs from running in elections following their appointments. Last March, the House of Representatives also approved on third and final reading House Bill 4146, which also seeks to postpone the August ARMM polls and synchronize it with the 2013 elections. A bicameral conference committee will be convened to reconcile the respective versions of the House and Senate. Once the bicameral committee approves the bill, it will be returned to the House and Senate for ratification. It will then be submitted to Malacañang for the signature of the President. The postponement of the ARMM elections is among the priority bills of Aquino, who wants the polls to be synchronized with the May 2013 national elections. — MRT/VS, GMA News

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