PNoy to sign ARMM poll postponement bill despite modification — spokesman

President Benigno Aquino III will sign the bill postponing the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao even if the provision disallowing the appointed officers-in-charge from running in the next polls had been removed, his spokesperson said Wednesday. “The President will sign the ARMM postponement bill," presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a text message. “The removal of the prohibition was to obviate any issue on the constitutionality of the provision. The OICs [to be] chosen are committed not to run in the 2013 elections." President Aquino wanted the OICs to be ineligible from running in the next elections. The House of Representatives on Tuesday ratified the ARMM postponement bill which the Senate approved on Monday. There is no need for a bicameral conference committee to meet because the modifications were minor, House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte earlier said. The draft bill Malacañang submitted to Congress stated that the incumbent elective officials of the ARMM shall hold office only until Sept. 30, 2011 when the President appoints officers-in-charge, who will be in post until the next officials are elected. The appointed officials, however, shall be ineligible to run in the next regular elections. Lacierda earlier said the ineligibility provision was included to discourage people who have political ambitions from wanting to be appointed as OIC. “Part of it is the idea of putting in professional and competent people. There’s been a defect in the ARMM system of governance and those that’s going to be appointed will be tasked to improve the system, put in place a system that will be efficient," he said. Lacierda explained that the appointed officials will be part of the transition team. The ARMM poll postponement bill was certified as urgent by the President. — KBK, GMA News