Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita made the announcement after he was formally informed that Congress lacks the material time to pass and reconcile conflicting measures seeking to reset anew the ARMM election scheduled by law on Aug. 8.
"It will push through," he said in a press conference, adding that the decision to proceed with the ARMM elections as scheduled was upon the advice of Congress leaders during the recent Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.
Though initially certified as among the administration’s urgent measures, Ermita was told by Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Jose de Venecia that they no longer have the material time to pass it in time for the ARMM elections.
"It is too close for comfort. They cannot promise they can pass it before Aug. 8," he said, mindful that both the Upper and Lower Houses of Chambers are scheduled to adjourn sine die on June 10 and are expected to resume their regular session on July 25.
There are at least four measures pending before the House of Representatives seeking to reset the ARMM elections on different and conflicting dates — Sept. 12, 2005, Oct. 31, 2005, and May 14, 2007.
One of the reasons being cited to justify the postponement of the Aug. 8 ARMM elections is the absence of funds, the constitutional provision prescribing a three-year term of office for all elective officials, among others.
Ermita, however, said he is not sure whether President Arroyo, the titular head of the administration Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party, will endorse or not any particular candidates for the ARMM elections.
"We will never know," he said, adding that although the President initially thought of declaring a "free-zone" for the ARMM, there might be some political realignments once the ARMM elections come near.
At least six officials have already filed their respective candidacies for gubernatorial seats, including incumbent ARMM Gov. Parouk Hussin who has returned to his post after he failed to win a Senate seat during last year’s elections.
It may be recalled that when Hussin, head of the Central Committee of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), first run for ARMM governor, he was endorsed by the President. He won handily.
Among those also vying for governor were ARMM assemblyman Hatimil Hassan, House Deputy Speaker Gerry Salapuddin, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao Mayor Zaldy "Datu Puti"Ampatuan, Alvarez Isnaji of Jolo, former ARMM Vice Gov. Mahid Mutilan, and former Rep. Guimid Matalam.
Malacañang optimistic that peace is near in Mindanao
By GENALYN D. KABILING
"Peace is near in Mindanao."
This was the optimism raised by Malacañang about the fate of the revitalized peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) without necessarily surrendering any part of the country’s sovereignty to the rebels.
Government chief negotiator Silvestre Afable Jr. said the government and the MILF negotiators have "gone more than halfway" in the peace process, citing several accomplishments particularly continued compliance of both parties with the cease-fire agreement ahead of formal talks.
"We also anticipate that there will be a meeting of minds in the ancestral domain which will adhere both to the interests of Filipino Muslims as well as to the interests of constitution and rule of law," he said in a news briefing in the Palace.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the Palace is pleased that the exploratory GRP-MILF peace talks under the auspices of the Malaysian government on the issue of ancestral domain are "nearly completed" particularly on the areas of concept, territory, resources, and governance.
Afable, also Palace communications director, said the government is willing to amend existing laws on the possibility of expanding the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to settle the ancestral domains as claimed by the Muslim separatist rebels.
"If this is also the sentiment of the large constituents and supporters of the MILF, we are willing to look at the present law. We are willing to make adjustments, accommodate all views to strengthen the ARMM," he said.
As part of the constitutional process, Ermita said the government, however, would have to conduct a plebiscite to ask other Muslim-populated provinces if they wish to be included in the ARMM. But so far, Afable said the MILF leaders have expressed willingness to use Republic Act (RA) No. 8371 or Indigenous Peoples Rights Act as "reference" to identify the ancestral lands of the Bangsamoro communities in the south, which the government found praiseworthy.
"The Philippine position that has been forwarded in the negotiations is based on the concept in the IPRA in which we are looking at the grant of ancestral domain to the major tribes in southern Philippines that generally profess Islam. And I can say at this point, this framework is somewhat acceptable to the MILF," he said.
The IPRA, which was enacted in November 1997, seeks to protect the political, economic, and cultural rights of the 13 million indigenous peoples (IPs) all over the country. It also aims to secure the IPs’ rights over their ancestral domain and their customary laws and practices.
Ermita said the MILF’s readiness to consider the IPRA provisions in the ancestral domain issue indicates their sincerity to fast-track the peace process. "The MILF is disposed to use the IPRA as a reference of the negotiations especially in talking about ancestral domains. That is a very significant development," he said in the same news briefing.
Afable meantime expressed confidence Manila could handily process the ancestral domains pushed by the MILF, which has been waging a separatist rebellion since 1978, in the negotiating table owing to existing IP laws.
"In our laws, we have a very good and solid definition of ancestral domain. We have the system in which ancestral domain are granted to tribes. I think we are coming from a solid position in the negotiating table," he said.
He noted that the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples have actually began processing a number of claims for ancestral lands from several Muslim tribes in Mindanao.
Should the MILF choose to introduce other concepts in the negotiations, Afable said: "I am confident we will find a middle ground in the talks."
Afable also commended the MILF membership in the discipline they displayed during their three-day general assembly in Maguindanao where they expressed unanimous support to the GRP-MILF peace talks.
He said the government also appreciates the MILF’s commitment in the recently concluded consultative assembly that it would help hunt down 50 terrorists listed in the government’s order of battle supposedly hiding in their communities.
Another indication of improving conditions for a peace settlement is the decline in the armed clashes between the government and the MILF forces, according to Afable.
He said skirmishes between government troops and rebels have been down to zero in the last two months as compared to the 70 incidents last year. "We hope these gains in the peace process especially in the ceasefire will continue," he added.
Both camps are expected to hold a round of exploratory talks first on the issue of governance before they enter on formal talks this month in Kuala Lumpur.
"Soon we shall go into formal stages of the talks to discuss the final peace agreement after which final agenda will be discussed on the disposition of forces and disarmament," Ermita said.
Interim agreements had been signed on two other major issues in the agenda of the talks — security and rehabilitation — during the first three rounds of formal peace talks in 2001.
