CSOs laud Senate plan on poll deferment bill-ManilaTimes.net

Stay Connected / Wednesday, March 30, 2011 BY JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL CORRESPONDENT and ROMMEL C. LONTAYAO REPORTER COTABATO CITY: The Mindanao advocates of peace and good governance composed of 131 civil society organizations (CSOs) on Tuesday hailed a proposal by the Senate Committee on Local Governments to conduct separate field hearings on the bill deferring polls in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and allow President Benigno Aquino 3rd to install officers in charge as caretakers. Sultan Monsing Macabando of the Sultanate League of Marawi City vehemently disowned the listing of their Sultanate league as one of the 61 organizations that paid a one-page advertisement in a national daily on March 18 expressing support to the intent of the just-passed House Bill 4146. "We still stick to what we've said loudly at the March 10 hearing in Marawi City on the bill that the regional polls should be held as scheduled and that our people must not be deprived of the rights of suffrage to choose leaders and shape their governance. This means we were not part of that paid publication entitled 'Good Governance, and Genuine Peace and Development in the ARMM Now,'" Macabando said. Father Eliseo Mercado Jr., executive director of the Institute of Autonomy and Governance, one of 131 organizations that rebuffed the pro-postponement camps in a subsequent published manifesto, said that they found relief in the expressed proposal of Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to hold separate hearings on a Senate version of the bill in the autonomous region's areas. Essence of autonomy "That's good," Mercado said of the proposed Senate hearings. "You know, I have always been for elections because that is the essence of autonomy. It's better for our people deciding on their governance than Malacañang determining things for us." Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Local government, said last week that he would conduct hearings on the bill and warned that this would take time because part of the consultations will be held in the the autonomous region's provinces. Marcos was not too optimistic about the bill moving as fast as the Palace wants it as certified urgent by President Aquino and given the fact that the filing of certificates of candidacy is fast approaching. Isabela Bishop Martin Jumoad also opposed the bill on ARMM poll postponement. In an interview over Catholic-run Radyo Veritas, Jumaod said that in order to solve the current problems in Basilan, the elections should push through as scheduled. The bishop, however, said that he would respect the decision of the government regarding the ARMM elections and will hope that such decision will be for the best interest of autonomous region's residents. "I am a law abiding citizen and I respect the decision of the government. They have the power of authority so let's hope for best because that's what the President has promised that he will clean the government," he said. Senate Minority Leader Allan Peter Cayetano also last week urged the Commission on Elections to commence preparations for the ARMM elections instead of waiting for an action of the Senate on the bill postponing the exercise. Cayetano said that it would be better for the Comelec to put its time and energy into preparations for the ARMM polls this August 8 because it had no control over how the Senate would decide on the proposed law. Cayetano and Marcos were among seven senators who have earlier expressed objection to postponing the ARMM elections and appointing officers in charge for 20 months in lieu of sitting officials. President Aquino, meanwhile, lauded the approval of the bill and expressed hope that the Senate would also approve the bill.