MALACANANG assured that President Benigno S. Aquino III will be signing into law the proposed bill which seeks to defer the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to 2013. In a media briefing at the Palace on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda expressed certainty that the proposed postponement of polls in ARMM will be sealed as soon as the President signs the measure on the 30th of this month.
Lacierda said that solons responsible in the passage of the legislative measure will also be present during the signing ceremonies.
“On the 30th of June, I can guarantee you that there will be a signing of the ARMM postponement bill (… ) those who were responsible in shepherding the bill will be there, the heads of both Houses and also Senator Frank Drilon who authored the senate version of the bill will also be there,”Lacierda said.
After being ratified by both Houses of Congress, the ARMM elections postponement bill was transmitted to the Palace for the signing. This bill is part of the landmark measures of the administration anchored on the Chief Executive’s social contract with the Filipino people.
The said measure seeks to synchronize the ARMM elections, originally scheduled in August, with the May 2013 midterm polls. It also gives President Aquino the power to appoint officers-in-charge in the ARMM government until new officials are elected on May 13, 2013 national midterm elections.
