ARMM polls delay voids autonomy safeguards — solon 03/20/2011

ARMM polls delay voids autonomy safeguards — solon

03/20/2011
House Minority Leader and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman yesterday scored Malacañang for insisting on postponing the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao elections scheduled this August, saying House Bill (HB) 4146 which President Aquino has certified as urgent violates all the built-in safeguards on autonomy in the ARMM.

In a statement sent to the media, Lagman said postponing the elections in the ARMM and allowing Aquino to appoint

In a statement sent to the media, Lagman said postponing the elections in the ARMM and allowing Aquino to appoint officers-in-charge (OICs), is by itself, violative of the organic which created ARMM as it negates the very concept of the autonomy the region is supposed to enjoy.

On interpellation early this week by Lagman, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, chairman of the sponsoring Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, categorically admitted that the Organic Act constituting ARMM, as amended, protects and preserves self-determination and self-governance in ARMM by providing for: (a) Periodic and regular elections; (b) Holdover of incumbent ARMM officials until their successors are elected and qualified;.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110320hed6.html