Zaldy supports Palace move to postpone ARMM polls

Suspended Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Rizaldy "Zaldy" Ampatuan threw his support to the government's move to defer elections in the region to 2013. Ampatuan, who is detained in Taguig City on charges of 57 counts of murder for the Maguindanao massacre in 2009, also expressed willingness to extend any help he could give to future ARMM officers-in-charge President Benigno Aquino III will appoint in light of the postponement. "He supports moves of Congress to suspend the ARMM arm polls and allow the President to appoint OICs. He has no reservations about it," lawyer Howard Calleja, Zaldy's legal counsel in the massacre trial, told reporters on the sidelines of Thursday's massacre trial inside Camp Bagong Diwa. The ARMM elections were originally scheduled August 8, 2011. President Aquino however had approved Republic Act 10153 that pushes back the ARMM elections by two more years, synchronizing them with the 2013 midterm polls. RA 10153 also gives President Aquino the authority to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs), something which some critics said were already beyond the President's constitutional power of supervision over the ARMM. Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo last Wednesday said the government has opened applications for the 26 ARMM OIC posts. The available positions are OIC regional governor, OIC regional vice governor, and 24 OIC members of the regional legislative assembly. Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, a complainant in the massacre case and who lost a wife and two sisters in the carnage, earlier claimed he got the endorsement of his fellow ARMM governors to become one of the OICs. On the other hand, Calleja said "Zaldy's support to the Palace's move was out respect for the appointing power." However, Calleja did not specify as to what particular assistance Zaldy would contribute to the future ARMM OICs. "Kung ano man maitutulong niya [Zaldy] wala siyang problema doon," Calleja said. The lawyer, however, appealed to the President to adopt a strict screening process for the nominees, and consider the applicants' track record in public service. "Ang hiling lang namin kay presidente, tingnang maigi ang ia-appoint para masala at dumaan sa proseso," he said. Calleja also challenged future OICs to show proof their track records have not been tainted with irregularities in the past, and that they must undergo a government audit to ensure transparency in their governance. He said Zaldy has no plans on recommending anyone to the OIC posts. — LBG, GMA News