Palace welcomes Senate decision on postponement of ARMM polls

Malacañang on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Senate to postpone the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) calling it “a great step toward systematic reform in the region." In a press statement on Tuesday, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda reiterated the administration’s position that through the synchronization of polls, democracy can be felt in the ARMM. Lacierda lauded Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile for stalwart leadership and Senator Franklin Drilon, author of Senate Bill 2756, for shepherding the bill. Lacierda said the vote signifies the willingness of the senators to follow the “straight and righteous path toward genuine, meaningful change." “Now that the bill has been passed in the Senate, we can look forward to the implementation of wider-ranging reforms to enable the people’s voice to be truly heard," he said. “May this mark the dawn of development efforts taking root in the region, where progress for the benefit of all- and not merely for the powerful few- is achieved," he added. Passing the "test of constitutionality" In a press briefing, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte expressed confidence that the ARMM poll postponement bill will pass the test of constitutionality. Valte also said the government is ready to answer any petition that will be filed against the postponement of the ARMM polls and its synchronization with the 2013 national elections. “Alam natin na merong hindi sumasang-ayon sa panukala. Handa tayong harapin kung ano yung kaso na isasampam kung kukuwestiyunin ang constitutionality, handa tayong sumagot," she said. Asked about the "sudden" favorable position of Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the ARMM poll postponement, Valte said it is not a secret that President Benigno Simeon Aquino III had been conducting talks with senators in the past days. Santiago met with Aquino on Monday afternoon in Malacañang, hours before the Senate voted on the bill. In her earlier statements, the senator hit Malacanang for pushing for the postponement of the elections saying it is unconstitutional. “Walang deal na nangyari. Maganda ang nagging resulta ng diskusyon, naging successful ang pagkukumbinsi," Valte told reporters. - VVP, GMA News