Not from ARMM areas, Sec. Robredo says of protesters

By Muhammad Musa

March 13, 2011 - “Ang balita ko ang mga nag-rally ay hindi taga ARMM, ito’y galing sa Sultan Kudarat province. Hindi naman sakop ng ARMM ang Sultan Kudarat…” (I heard that those who gathered for the rally were not residents of ARMM; they come from Sultan Kudarat province. Sultan Kudarat was never been part of ARMM”

This was the statement of Sec. Jesse M. Robredo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), who told reporters that when consultations on the House Bill 4164 were conducted to the people of Maguindanao province.

The consultation was held at the ARMM Cultural Complex, Cotabato City on Thursday March 10.

Robredo doubted the protesters who have brought people in the street of Gov. Gutierrez Avenue in the City of Cotabato for an anti-rally campaign during the consultations about the HB 4146 filled by Maguindanao 1st District Rep. Bai Sandra Sema to the House of Representative on the 7th of February.

The proposed HB 4146 is an Act resetting the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections to synchronize with the 2013 National and Local elections.

The protesters led by a progressive group asked the government to conduct the elections on August 8, 2011, saying this wasalready fixed by Republic Act 9054, in order to give the people of ARMM to choose their leader whom they know and trust to lead the region.

The protesters believed that although the ARMM past administrations have full of controversies over the alleged “culture of goons, guns and corruption” it is the right timing to change the ARMM’s negative image by having the election.
Another group of ‘pro-ARMM election’ emphasized that the right of suffrage is an element of democracy that should not be denied to the people of ARMM, so that can freely choose their leaders.

In a related development, RLA Speaker Hon. DatuRoonie Q. Sinsuat told reporters that the ARMM administration has a concrete stand on the matter being discussed saying RA 9054 that if the President would appoint officials to be placed in ARMM government as officer-in-charge, the incumbent should be considered first.

However, Robredo disclosed during the consultation that only the ARMM officials are enjoying but the condition of the people has never changed.

He said the poverty incidence in the ARMM is so high in the four provinces of ARMM.

Meanwhile, Abdulbasit Benito, the Secretary of the Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society-Kutawato Regional Management Committee (CBCS-KRMC) suggested in choosing the OIC of the ARMM, there should a screening committee that will represent the areas of the mainland and the western Mindanao. These representatives will help craft the criteria for choosing the right person to head the region.

He suggested the following criteria: first must be a Bangsamoro—a native inhabitant of ARMM; second it has a background on NGO work; third no record on bad governance; fourth they should have clout to the two Moro fronts the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF); fifth he/she can facilitate the full realization of Bangsamoro’s right-to-self-determination; and sixth God fearing.

Meantime, Rep. Sandra Sema said the deferment of the ARMM election would save government funds and give way to uninterrupted GPH-MILF peace talks.

ARMM Executive Secretary Atty. Naguib B. Sinarimbo said that the consultation was conducted by the House Committee on Electoral Reforms and Suffrage and the Muslim Affairs upon the request of P-Noy Aquino through the suggestion of Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council or LEDAC.

After consulting the residents of Maguindanao and Cotabato City, the next two rounds of consultations will be held in Marawi City in Lanao and Zamboanga City for the western Mindanao constituents.