8/3/2019 20111018 Statement of the President ARMM Elections BSA
1/1
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
###
Top Related