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SC asked to reverse ruling on ARMM elections


Opponents of the law synchronizing the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) with the 2013 midterm elections asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to reverse its ruling favorable to the said law. The petitioners — former Tawi-Tawi Gov. Almarim Centi Tillah, Prof. Datu Casan Conding, and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Laban — said the court should not allow President Benigno Aquino III to appoint ARMM officers-in-charge, which is allowed under Republic Act 10153 but, according to them, is prohibited by the Constitution. The Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of RA 10153 last month. “We therefore submit that instead of tampering with the autonomy – albeit seminal - already granted to the Moros of Mindanao, the Court should, perhaps, insist on the rigorous observance of the requirements of the Constitution, the Local Government Code, and, the Organic Act(s) creating the ARMM to give full leeway to the rights of the Moro peoples to elect their own leaders and run their own affairs," the petitioners said through their lawyer, former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who is from Mindanao. According to them, RA 10153 is contrary to Article X of the Constitution, which mandates autonomy of ARMM. They, however, proposed to the court to “allow elective incumbent officials of the ARMM to continue in office even in hold-over capacities until the next elections are held for the region." Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said the petitioners' motion for reconsideration would be tackled by the justices when they resume full-court session on November 15 after a month-long recess. Last October 18, the high court, voting 8-7, upheld the constitutionality of RA 10153 which defers the ARMM elections last August 8 and synchronizes it with the May 2013 mid-term elections, and empowers Aquino to appoint officers-in-charge in ARMM executive offices until the next elections. — KBK, GMA News

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