OPAPP chief Secretary Teresita Deles said the consultation held at a restaurant here was prompted by the legal issues surrounding the date for the ARMM polls, with the law pointing to Sept. 2004.
"The date is already too close," she said.
"There are many legal issues about the election in the ARMM. So the consultation with Muslim leaders is being made to get their consensus. They are expected to take the lead," said Deles.
Defense Secretary Eduardo Ermita said this is "just to remind them there will be a forthcoming election of ARMM, so OPAPP thought of having a meeting with Muslim leaders, to develop a consensus — what is in their mind, when, and who, and how."
ARMM officials led by Gov. Parouk S. Hussin and Vice Gov. Mahid Mutilan were elected on Nov. 26, 2001 with a three-year term.
As this developed, the office of Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datu-manong has already drafted a bill seeking to postpone the regional election to May 9, 2005 after Muslim members of the House of Representatives agreed on the date in a meeting on Tuesday.
Should the bill passes into law, with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who might endorse it as urgent measure, Hussin, Mutilan, and the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly will serve on a holdover capacity for six months.
Datumanong said earlier the bill to be signed by all Muslim solons will provide for the holdover function.
Lanao del Sur Gov. Aleem Bashir Manalao said the "frequencies of many elections is actually hampering the growth and development of the different provinces in the ARMM."
Manalao said the May 10 elections’ effect is still being felt in the region and another political exercise is now being contemplated.
The new Lanao del Sur governor said he supports the proposal to synchronize the ARMM and barangay polls next year.
Lanao del Sur Rep. Benasing Macarambon Jr. said the five governors in the region should ask themselves if it is good for their people to defer the polls or go through with it this year.
Asked for his comment, Basilan Gov. Wahab Akbar said "kung saan sila masaya doon ako. Susuportahan ko ang gusto nila," referring to Thursday meeting called by OPAPP.
