While the ARMM election synchronization bill is still at the table of the Committee on Local Government chaired by Senator Bongbong Marcos, there is already a long list of names aspiring to be the next ARMM officials. The term of the incumbent officials are set to end on the noon of the 3oth of September 2011 according to RA 9054 and RA 9333.
Fourteen vie for Regional Governor while sixteen vie for Regional Vice Governor amidst the pending status of SB 2756. The fourteen who filed their CoCs for Regional Governor are:
Also, the sixteen who filed their CoCs for Regional Vice Governor are:
According to COMELEC, Liberal Party, the President's political party, did not not have any nominations. The party must be very pressured whether to nominate or not, or who to nominate considering that "machinery" is one big important factor. Will it consider the trapos, warlords and narcopoliticians who have been waiting in vain? Is it willing to forgo the reform agenda for political pragmatism? Or will it maintain it's synchronization plan and let go of the opportunity for LP to enter the LAKAS-UNCD dominated ARMM? It should be noted that in all six elections in ARMM, all the elected RGs and RVGs came from LAKAS-UNCD.
The ARMM election synchronization bill is a certified urgent bill by President Aquino. This is a test of his resiliency in reforming ARMM and his resolve to lead the country. A defeat of the bill is a defeat of his reform agenda not only in the ARMM but the country as well. It will also reflect on how effective this administration is in handling the peace process.
The Reform ARMM Now [RAN], a broad coalition of civil society organizations and NGOs in ARMM and Mindanao, has been doing all means to lobby for the synchronization of ARMM election with the national and local election since February this year. RAN wants the polls synchronized and postponed till 2013 to provide a breathing space for drastic reforms to be instituted including the overhaul of voters list, rounding up loose firearms, curbing electoral violence, among others. The House approved HB 4146, the twin bill of SB 2756, with flying colors -- 191 votes.
Synchronization of elections is a constitutional mandate and this has been upheld by the Supreme Court in Osmena vs COMELEC. The Constitution provides for a synchronized local and national election. Since the ARMM is considered as local government unit, it must, as a constitutional mandate, be synchronized with other local and national elections. In the case of Osmena vs Comelec it was decided that local and national election must be synchronized and ARMM is not an exception to this rule.
Constitutional expert Father Joaquin Bernas as well as DOJ Sec. Laila de Lima opined that synchronization of election of ARMM with the 2013 National and Local elections is constitutional. By synchronizing the election there is less opportunity for the Malacanang to anoint candidates. There will be more room for equal and fair opportunity in electoral process during election. When elections are synchronized, there will be more watchers and less votes manipulation.
RAN maintains its stand to fight for the synchronization bill till the bill's last breath and till the group's last ray of light. Election fever may be in the air and people who have been clamoring to have election must be jumping with joy but the truth of the matter is that the synch bill is still alive and the fight for reform is just getting more intense. RAN tells the candidates not to be too excited because the Committee Report on the ARMM synch bill will be out soon and the bill will be put to a vote at the plenary. There is a scheduled final Committee Hearing on the said bill on May 31, 2011 where high-ranking Malacanang officials are expected to attend. They have been preempting the death of bill before it arrived at the Senate doors, but guess what? More than one month have passed and the bill is still alive and kicking.
Hence, it’s not yet over until it’s over. Should elections be pushed through on August 8, RAN challenges all candidates to present their reform agenda for ARMM and to commit to a clean, honest and peaceful election.
Ashmaira Mayasa Abdullah,
incumbent Governor of Lanao del Sur Provincial, Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto Adiong Jr.,
Saad Ibrahim Amate,
incumbent Congressman of Lanao del Sur 2nd District, Pangalian Macorao Balindong,
Ephraim Baldomero Defino,
former Representative of AMIN Party-list, Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman,
former OIC Governor of ARMM from September 3 to October 11, 2001, Alvarez Silal Isnaji,
Ansaroden Magangcong Sani Bantuas Lucman Moner,
former Governor of Sultan Kudarat, Pax Pakung Sandigan Mangudadatu,
Kadra Asani Masihul,
Datu Habib Sarifuddin Samanodi Maulana,
Elsie New Orejudos,
former OIC Governor of Lanao del Sur, Saidamen Balt Pangarungan,
Sahiron Dulaah Salim
Saad Ibrahim Amate,
incumbent Congressman of Lanao del Sur 2nd District, Pangalian Macorao Balindong,
Ephraim Baldomero Defino,
former Representative of AMIN Party-list, Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman,
former OIC Governor of ARMM from September 3 to October 11, 2001, Alvarez Silal Isnaji,
Ansaroden Magangcong Sani Bantuas Lucman Moner,
former Governor of Sultan Kudarat, Pax Pakung Sandigan Mangudadatu,
Kadra Asani Masihul,
Datu Habib Sarifuddin Samanodi Maulana,
Elsie New Orejudos,
former OIC Governor of Lanao del Sur, Saidamen Balt Pangarungan,
Sahiron Dulaah Salim
Fatani Sultan Abdul Malik,
incumbent OIC Governor of ARMM, Ansaruddin-Abdul Malik "Hooky" Alonto Adiong,
Mikinug Pangcatan Ampao,
Arab Dimasimpun Ampaso,
Shariffa Ziola Anding Bago,
Datu Pelaez Alo Carudin,
former Governor of Tarlac and Aunt of PNoy, Margarita Delos Reyes Cojuanco,
President of ARMM Social Action Movement (ASAM), Bobby Managaran Datimbang,
Alikhan Awar Dimaro,
Gani Usman Gaddung,
Abdulbasit Ampaso Hadjinor,
Omar Tani Hassiman,
former OIC Governor of Lanao del Sur, Bashier Dimalang Manalao,
Kano Pasandalan Nor,
Marconi Curso Tomelden Paiso Al haj.,
Son of Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Abdulsakur II Abubakar Tan.
incumbent OIC Governor of ARMM, Ansaruddin-Abdul Malik "Hooky" Alonto Adiong,
Mikinug Pangcatan Ampao,
Arab Dimasimpun Ampaso,
Shariffa Ziola Anding Bago,
Datu Pelaez Alo Carudin,
former Governor of Tarlac and Aunt of PNoy, Margarita Delos Reyes Cojuanco,
President of ARMM Social Action Movement (ASAM), Bobby Managaran Datimbang,
Alikhan Awar Dimaro,
Gani Usman Gaddung,
Abdulbasit Ampaso Hadjinor,
Omar Tani Hassiman,
former OIC Governor of Lanao del Sur, Bashier Dimalang Manalao,
Kano Pasandalan Nor,
Marconi Curso Tomelden Paiso Al haj.,
Son of Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan, Abdulsakur II Abubakar Tan.
According to COMELEC, Liberal Party, the President's political party, did not not have any nominations. The party must be very pressured whether to nominate or not, or who to nominate considering that "machinery" is one big important factor. Will it consider the trapos, warlords and narcopoliticians who have been waiting in vain? Is it willing to forgo the reform agenda for political pragmatism? Or will it maintain it's synchronization plan and let go of the opportunity for LP to enter the LAKAS-UNCD dominated ARMM? It should be noted that in all six elections in ARMM, all the elected RGs and RVGs came from LAKAS-UNCD.
The ARMM election synchronization bill is a certified urgent bill by President Aquino. This is a test of his resiliency in reforming ARMM and his resolve to lead the country. A defeat of the bill is a defeat of his reform agenda not only in the ARMM but the country as well. It will also reflect on how effective this administration is in handling the peace process.
The Reform ARMM Now [RAN], a broad coalition of civil society organizations and NGOs in ARMM and Mindanao, has been doing all means to lobby for the synchronization of ARMM election with the national and local election since February this year. RAN wants the polls synchronized and postponed till 2013 to provide a breathing space for drastic reforms to be instituted including the overhaul of voters list, rounding up loose firearms, curbing electoral violence, among others. The House approved HB 4146, the twin bill of SB 2756, with flying colors -- 191 votes.
Synchronization of elections is a constitutional mandate and this has been upheld by the Supreme Court in Osmena vs COMELEC. The Constitution provides for a synchronized local and national election. Since the ARMM is considered as local government unit, it must, as a constitutional mandate, be synchronized with other local and national elections. In the case of Osmena vs Comelec it was decided that local and national election must be synchronized and ARMM is not an exception to this rule.
Constitutional expert Father Joaquin Bernas as well as DOJ Sec. Laila de Lima opined that synchronization of election of ARMM with the 2013 National and Local elections is constitutional. By synchronizing the election there is less opportunity for the Malacanang to anoint candidates. There will be more room for equal and fair opportunity in electoral process during election. When elections are synchronized, there will be more watchers and less votes manipulation.
RAN maintains its stand to fight for the synchronization bill till the bill's last breath and till the group's last ray of light. Election fever may be in the air and people who have been clamoring to have election must be jumping with joy but the truth of the matter is that the synch bill is still alive and the fight for reform is just getting more intense. RAN tells the candidates not to be too excited because the Committee Report on the ARMM synch bill will be out soon and the bill will be put to a vote at the plenary. There is a scheduled final Committee Hearing on the said bill on May 31, 2011 where high-ranking Malacanang officials are expected to attend. They have been preempting the death of bill before it arrived at the Senate doors, but guess what? More than one month have passed and the bill is still alive and kicking.
Hence, it’s not yet over until it’s over. Should elections be pushed through on August 8, RAN challenges all candidates to present their reform agenda for ARMM and to commit to a clean, honest and peaceful election.
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