8/3/2019 20111018 Statement of the President ARMM Elections BSA

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FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

Statementof

HisExcellencyBenignoS.AquinoIII

PresidentofthePhilippines

OntheSupremeCourtRuling

onthePostponementoftheARMMElections

WethanktheSupremeCourtforupholdingourefforttobreakthecycleofimpunity,corruptionandpovertyinthe

ARMM.Theadministration supported thebillto synchronizetheARMMelectionswithnational electionsin an

efforttoendtheviciouscycleofabnormalelectionswherethemandateofthepeopleissubvertedbymeansof

thecommandvotewieldedbylocalpoliticalfamilies.

Webelievethatiflocalpoliticalfamiliesmustattendtotheirelectionatthesametimethatnationalelectionsare

being conducted, theywill be lessable toutilize command votes in favor of political patrons to subvert the

nationalwill.

Commandvotinghascontributedtothecycleof impunity,theresultsofwhichhavebeendemonstratedin the

regionbeingbloodiedbythereignofimpunity,aswitnessedbytheMaguindanaoMassacre,inwhich57people

wereallegedlykilledbyalocalpoliticalfamily.Thissameimpunityalsomanifesteditselfintheanomaliesinoffice

of the governor of Maguindanao not beingable to account for the releaseof more than 865million in cash

advancestoofficers.

AndARMMhasbeen,forsolong,aregioninwhichnotonlyimpunity,butalsopoverty,hasplaguedtheregion,

withpovertyincidenceamongfamiliesintheARMMreaching38.1%in2009.

The Supreme Court decision gives us a great opportunity to correct these long-standing problems. It is an

opportunitythatwewillnotsquander.

Alongwithsynchronizedelections,weareundertakingmeasurestoensurethelong-termstabilityandequitable

progressoftheregionamongthemthe8.592billionpesosthatouradministrationisprovidingfortheARMM

transitionandinvestmentsupportplan.Thefundwillpavethewayforimprovingservicedeliveryperformance,

reforming and strengthening governance capacities, improving public safety and security, and other socio-

economicprojectstowardensuringpeace,stabilityandinclusiveeconomicgrowthinARMM.

WewillappointOICsinconsultationwithstakeholders;thenationcanrestassuredthattheseOICswillbepeople

ofintegrityandcompetencewhowillspendtheirdaysinofficepursuinggenuinereformanddevelopment.As

weprepare tosynchronizeARMMandnationalelections in2013,ournationhas takenanothersignificantstep

intodaylight.Mayallourleaders,atalllevelsandbranchesofgovernment,continuetobeboundbyourcommon

agendaoflastingandequitableprogressfortheFilipinopeople.

October18,2011

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