Monday, July 21, 2008 Armm guvs, mayors oppose move to defer polls By Malu Cadelina Manar Correspondent
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- Majority of the local chief executives in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) opposed the move to postpone the August 11 elections as this violates the law that created the region.
In a survey, 35 out of the 37 members of the League of Mayors in the Armm said they are opposed to the deferment of the elections.
Most of them said postponing the regional polls is a serious violation of Republic Act (RA) 9054, the region's charter, which provides for the conduct of regional elections every three years.
They also said the National Government should consult them on matters concerning the regional polls as this concerns Muslim autonomy.
For Lamitan City Mayor Roderick Furigay, postponing the elections can delay the socio-economic growth of the autonomous region.
He said the region is "now gaining headway very ostensibly."
The Armm provincial governors are also opposed to the deferment.
Armm's executive secretary, lawyer Oscar Sampulna, said the governors want the regional polls to push through as scheduled.
It was the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) that sought postponement of the Armm polls.
Mohaqher Iqbal, MILF panel chief negotiator, said if elections will push through, it would delay the start of the transition period of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity (BJE).
