MNLF,  MILF  WANT  ARMM  POLLS  DEFERRED  AFTER  SULU MAYOR'S  ARREST 
 
ZAMBOANGA CITY, JULY 4, 2008 (STAR) By Roel Pareño  – The two largest Muslim secessionist groups urged government to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) due to the arrest of Indanan, Sulu Mayor Alvarez Isnaji.

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) called for deferment of the regional elections next month, also citing the tensions brought by the attacks staged by some restive MILF groups in recent weeks.

Isnaji, a gubernatorial candidate in the regional polls, was arrested by the police after being implicated in the kidnapping of broadcast journalist Ces Drilon and her crew early last month.

Isnaji will be running in the ARMM election under the banner of the MNLF. His candidacy is being supported by one of the two dominant factions in the MNLF.

MNLF chairman and Cotabato City Mayor Muslimen Sema could not be reached for comment on the alleged unity call of the two fronts to postpone the election.

But Sema earlier urged the postponement of the ARMM elections and called on Malacañang to instead appoint the governor.

Sema said the appointment of the ARMM governor instead of holding an election for the position would be cost efficient and would abide by the 1996 peace accord that allowed the MNLF to govern the autonomous region.

ARMM administrator Norie Unas, concurrent regional secretary-general of the ruling Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats, said they have received similar reports but could not confirm if the plan has been forwarded to Malacañang.

But incumbent and reelectionist Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, the anointed candidate of President Arroyo, remained unperturbed by the calls to postpone the election.

“We respect anybody’s views not only concerning the election but also other issues confronting the ARMM region,” Ampatuan said.

Ampatuan believed the effort to cancel the regional elections would be futile since any postponement would need amendments to the law that has scheduled the ARMM elections on Aug. 11.

Unas also said it would be too late to amend the law to postpone the elections since Congress is on recess and would resume session on July 28, just 12 days ahead of the elections.

Unas said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has already prepared for the elections that will showcase the government’s efforts at full automation of the electoral process.

Comelec earlier expressed its opinion on the possible postponement of the ARMM elections, particularly in Sulu, citing the security situation stemming from military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf extremists.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said this would only be the “extreme measure” if the poll body cannot ensure the integrity of elections in ARMM.

He said Comelec has the power to recommend the postponement of the elections but only as an extreme measure.

Comelec Chairman Jose Melo also expressed concerns over the possible effects of military operations in the upcoming elections in Sulu and five other provinces under the ARMM.

Melo said the military operations might discourage voters from going out to vote, with other armed groups taking advantage of the situation to sabotage the elections.

The military has intensified the offensive against the Abu Sayyaf following the release of Drilon and two others held captive by the bandit group for nine days.

Isnaji, who acted as negotiator, was among those implicated by the police in the kidnapping.

Concerns over the recent attacks by some MILF factions in Central Mindanao were also raised.

A ranking military official said the attacks by the MILF were meant to force the government into accepting the ancestral domain issue and their demand for self-rule. – With John Unson

2 new Comelec commissioners take oath, to oversee ARMM polls By Sheila Crisostomo Friday, July 4, 2008

Two newly appointed commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would barely have time to warm their seats as they have been assigned to supervise the scheduled elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on Aug. 11.

Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Leonardo Leonida yesterday took their oaths of office before Comelec Chairman Jose Melo and other key officials a day after Malacañang announced their appointment.

“We won’t allow these two to warm up their seats here in the office. They will be deployed immediately to oversee the upcoming automated elections in ARMM,” Melo said.

Tagle is a retired justice of the Court of Appeals while Leonida used to be a judge at the Malabon regional trial court.

They replaced Commissioners Resurreccion Borra and Florentino Tuason who retired last February.

The Comelec will review which provinces in ARMM would be assigned to the commissioners.

Melo said they expect the two new officials to “hit the ground running” at the Comelec.

“We only have a month before the ARMM elections, their baptism of fire, so we asked them to buckle down to work right away,” he said.

Tagle claimed the upcoming polls would serve as a “litmus test” not only for the automation of the ARMM elections but also for the preparations being undertaken for the 2010 presidential polls.

“Though this came as a surprise, I’m very happy to be back. I vow to improve the image of the Comelec, to make it more credible to the people,” he said.

Tagle, who resigned from the appellate court a week ago, considers the Comelec post as a “perfect birthday gift” for his 70th birthday last June 26.

Leonida, for his part, said that he has committed himself to “uphold the mandate of the Commission to ensure clean, honest and orderly elections, enforce election laws fairly and render equal justice for all.”

Earlier reports showed that Leonida was facing an administrative charge before the Supreme Court for unethical conduct.

The report further showed that Leonida used to be assigned in Laguna but was transferred to Malabon because of alleged indiscretion.

It was reportedly his wife who asked for his transfer.

Asked about this, Leonida maintained that the case “had no basis and the sources against me were all unknown.”

Leonida was accompanied by his wife Myrna during the oath-taking ceremony and the latter attested that the case was “very untrue and malicious.”

Meantime, senators vowed yesterday to scrutinize the background and credentials of the two new Comelec commissioners.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate committee on constitutional amendments and electoral reforms, admitted he was receiving negative text messages about Leonida but would not want to jump to conclusions.

Gordon, along with Senate Majority Leader Francis Pangilinan, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Escudero, welcomed the early appointment of commissioners although they did not know much about them.

Lacson said it was good that the appointees – Leonida and Tagle – were not politicians but members of the judiciary.

“When it comes to competence and qualification, we can assess that during the Commission on Appointments’ hearing on their confirmation,” Lacson said.

Gordon and Pimentel said they would look into reports they were getting against Leonida, especially on corruption.

“I am asking informant to provide details and witnesses,” Pimentel said.

“I don’t know them from Adam, hope they are qualified, honest and courageous enough to stand up for their convictions and cleanse Comelec of scoundrels who undermine democratic foundations,” Pimentel added.

He also said President Arroyo must explain why she ignored the list of nominees submitted by the Malacañang search committee and poll watch organizations in filling the vacancies in Comelec.

The nominees included University of the East College of Law Dean Amado Valdez, lawyer Persida Rueda-Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office of the Department of Justice, Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, lawyer Howard Calleja, former senator Rene Saguisag and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.

Pangilinan challenged the two new Comelec commissioners to perform their duties with highest competence as they would be joining one of the country’s most controversial institutions.

“It is no exaggeration to say that in this critical period in our nation’s history, their failure to deliver could mean the end of constitutional democracy as we know it,” Pangilinan said. – With Aurea Calica