20111018 Statement of the President ARMM Elections BSA

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  • 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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