Muslim solons want ARMM elections postponed again

COTABATO CITY — Eight Muslim solons have jointly authored a bill seeking to defer the November elections in the expanded Mindanao autonomous region to the year 2003.

The Bureau of Public Information (BPI), the media office of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, said the proposed legislation, House Bill 2873, is also aimed at amending certain provisions of Republic Act 9140, which allowed ARMM’s expansion through a plebiscite last Aug. 14.

RA 9140 also fixed to the last Monday of November 2001 and every three years thereafter the date of the election of new set of officials for the expanded autonomous region.

The proponents of House Bill 2873 are Reps. Hussin Amin and Munir Arbison of Sulu, Soraya Jaafar of Tawi-Tawi, Benasing Macarambon Jr. and Faysa Dumarpa of Lanao del Sur, Abdullah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte, Guimid Matalam of Maguindanao and Jerry Salapudin of Basilan.

The eight Muslim solons, in proposing the postponent of the elections, asserted that the security situation in many flashpoints in the South could affect the turnout of the forthcoming political exercise.

They said the situation was one of the causes of the "dismal failure" of the Aug.14 plebiscite for expanded autonomy.

Only two areas, Marawi City and Basilan will join the autonomous region, which previously covered only Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

ARMM insiders said if the elections are deferred it is likely that ARMM Gov. Nur Misuari will continue as regional governor on holdover basis.

Meanwhile, the Council of 15, the new central leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front, said it is up to the House and the Senate to handle the issue.

The MNLF’s secretary-general, Cotabato City Mayor Muslimin Sema, said the council and its 16 constituent-chairmen in the South are now ready for the forthcoming November elections. — John Unson