Two congressmen from Mindanao on Thursday joined mounting calls to postpone the August 11 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by filing a bill that would give sitting officials 18 more months at their posts.
House Bill 4832, seeking to postpone the August 11 polls until 2010, was filed by Representatives Faysah Dumarpa of Lanao del Sur and Munir Arbison of Sulu.
Dumarpa, the bill's principal sponsor, said they are pushing for the postponement of the elections until 2010 national and local elections "so as not to derail the ongoing peace negotiations" between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
She said the proposed 18-month extension will give both sides enough time to put in place the proposed amendment to the Muslim Organic Act -- which includes provisions for the geographic expansion of the ARMM and the creation of a Bangsamoro juridical entity, among others -- that is consistent with whatever agreement the two sides may agree upon.
Dumarpa also reasoned that the synchronization of the ARMM elections with the already synchronized naitonal and local polls in 2010 will lower costs for the government.
"With all the above reasons cited, the proponents of the measure called on Congress to act on the said bill urgently to settle immediately the issue on the upcoming ARMM elections," she added.
Fast-tracking of bill eyed
In a related interview, Dumarpa told ANC's "Top Story" newscast Thursday that the bill is in response to President Arroyo's call to postpone the polls.
"The bill filed today by this representation (Dumarpa) and Congressman Arbison is in response to the calls made by President Arroyo to Muslim members of the House of Representatives and the ARMM in conference and consultation regarding the request of the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) to postpone the August 11 ARMM elections," Dumarpa said.
She is hoping that the bill would be passed in two weeks.
"Although we have seven session days, if this will be certified I think the Lower House should pass [the bill]," she said.
She also said that Mindanao representatives will have a caucus on Tuesday to discuss the bill.
Aside from the two congressmen, three other Muslim representatives - Simeon Datumanong of Maguindanao, Mujiv Hataman of Anak-Mindanao and Pangalian Balindong of Lanao del Sur-- have already stated their support for the bill but Dumarpa and Arbison were the only ones who have signed it.
'Govt not giving in'
Dumarpa said the bill is not a sign that the government is giving in to demands of the MILF though admittedly, the group's requirements sound reasonable.
"[The demands] are not misplaced. As I see it, their purpose is to come up with final peace agreement with the GRP and the inclusion of different barangays... and the two cities of Cotabato and Lamitan," she said.
"This involves national interest. It's not [the government panel's] interest, this is national interest... to give way to peace talks," she added.
"If we can get the sympathy of other members of Lower House, including [members of the] Senate, we will give way to the postponement of elections for the sake of the long-overdue peace agreement with MILF," she said.
Postponement agreed upon Tuesday
Malacañang on Tuesday said Mrs. Arroyo is supporting a proposal to postpone the August 11 elections as a means of letting the peace process in the troubled region "succeed."
Press Secretary Jesus Dureza announced that the president is endorsing a proposal to postpone the ARMM elections, after meeting with officials of the autonomous region.
"The President came here as part of her visit and consultation with stakeholders of ARMM. They agreed that elections will be postponed," Dureza said.
Arroyo met with ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan, other officials and stakeholders during her visit to the region on Tuesday, and agreed that they will seek a postponement of the polls to give the peace process an "opportunity" to "succeed."
Dureza cited a recent achievement of the government peace panel in its negotiations with the MILF when they settled the issue on ancestral domain.
Dureza also did not elaborate on who will act as acting regional governor once Ampatuan's term ends, saying the specifics will have to be determined by Congress.
MILF peace panel chair Mohager Iqbal expressed their heartfelt thanks with the President’s decision for heeding their request.
Iqbal said the postponement of the ARMM election will have a good impact on the peace process.