Comelec lacks funds for ARMM polls

Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials are not ready for the November elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as the P300-million poll fund has yet to be released by the Department of Budget and Management.

However, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said there is still enough time to prepare for the elections, which under the law should be held on the last Monday of November.

Abalos said Congress could still pass a bill seeking to reset the ARMM elections to coincide with barangay polls in October next year.

The postponement of elections could save money, considering the government’s budgetary constraints, he added.

The ARMM is comprised of the provinces of Maguindanao (excluding Cotabato City), Basilan (excluding Isabela City), Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Lanao del Sur (including Marawi City).

Meanwhile, the Comelec is set to file criminal charges against 100,000 ARMM residents, including children, after they were found to have registered twice for the May 10 elections.

Alioden Dalaig, Comelec legal department chief, said they could face up to six years in prison, if convicted.

Dalaig said they are awaiting the Information Technology Division to provide them with a complete list of the double registrants.

"What is important is that we purge the list," he said.

"This has long been a problem. At ARMM, politicians are aware that the list is padded, but they would not do anything, hoping that one day they could use it to their advantage. If not, that is the only time they will complain."

The irregularity was discovered during last year’s computerization of the ARMM’s list of voters, which turned out to be heavily padded.Jose Aravilla