No vacancies in ARMM despite SC ruling—solon By Charlie V. Manalo 09/24/2011

No vacancies in ARMM despite SC ruling—solon

By Charlie V. Manalo 09/24/2011

Despite the Supreme Court’s (SC) restraining the President from appointing officers-in-charge (OICs) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), there will be no void or vacancies in the positions of ARMM governor, vice governor and members of the regional assembly whose terms of office expire on Sept. 30.

This was clarified by House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, the principal petitioner in the SC who is challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act 10153 which cancelled the Aug. 8 ARMM election and authorized the President to appoint OICs.

Lagman said that existing laws on ARMM, particularly RA 9054, or the Expanded Organic Act of 2001, authorizes the hold-over of incumbents until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Consequently, the implementation of the hold-over proviso in ARMM is valid, legal and constitutional, according to Lagman..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20110924nat1.html