By EDD K. USMAN
MARAWI CITY — Even as potential candidates for the election in the expanded Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are lining up for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s anointment as official Lakas-CMD gubernatorial candidate, a Muslim woman legislator said yesterday she is sticking to her stand that the polls should be held next year.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Faysah Dumarpa said that even if her fellow lawmakers in ARMM want the election to be held this year, she would stand by her bill seeking deferment of the electoral exercise to next year with a definite schedule to be decided during committee meetings.
Postponing to next year the election, Dumarpa said, would save the government much needed funds that would otherwise be used for priority projects of the government.
Dumarpa’s 2005 date for ARMM polls, which Lanao del Norte Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo is supporting, has also found backing from a number of political and religious leaders in Lanao del Sur.
Masiu Mayor Aminullah Arimao, a political neophyte, is leading the movement for the postponement of the election, saying that holding it this year would derail ARMM’s peace and development program.
ARMM Gov. Dr. Parouk S. Hussin’s peace building and development initiatives, which the President has supported, would grind to a halt, Arimao said.
“It seems like the present ARMM leadership has just assumed office, and here we are again, talking of ARMM elections. I think it is unwise to hold an election this year when most of the programs and projects of Governor Hussin are either ongoing or nearing completion,” Arimao said.
“The momentum gained by this administration should be sustained, even for just a year. Should an election be held sooner or later, Governor Hussin should be given the opportunity to be reelected as he has demonstrated his good handling of the affairs of the ARMM,” he also said.
Arimao said due to the unfinished projects of the regional governor — such as on livelihood, infrastructure, agriculture, health, education — granted by the international donor communities, further assistance would be stopped due to uncertainties caused by highly-divisive political exercises.
Dr. Elias Ishaq, an “aleem” or religious leader, also called for deferring the ARMM election to 2005.
“(The) last local elections had caused so much division among our people in the Autonomous Region. Holding another election in such a short time will surely ensure divisiveness when what we should be promoting is reconciliation and unity,” Ishaq said.
Like Arimao, the Islamic scholar said the national leadership, led by Mrs. Arroyo, should consider the ARMM election’s potpnement to complete the unity and reconciliation process.
