MANILA, Philippines — With just over two months remaining before the scheduled Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) election, an official of an election watchdog in Lanao del Sur reiterated his opposition to the holding of the polls in August.

Hadji Abdullah Lacs Dalidig, president of the Islamic Movement for Electoral Reforms and Good Governance (IMERGG) and chairman of the National Movement for Free Election (NAMFREL) in Lanao del Sur, said he supports House Bill (HB) 4146, seeking to synchronize the ARMM election with the national election in 2013, contrary to earlier reports insinuating that he supports the holding of the ARMM election in August.

“This is in order to conform to the constitutional mandate. I also support the provision in the bill that officials will not be allowed to stay on holdover capacity as it is contrary to the Constitution,” Dalidig said.

In a statement furnished to the House of Representatives during its deliberation of the bill, Dalidig proposed that a provision to nullify the “Book of Voters” in the ARMM be included, citing that it is allegedly tainted with multiple registrations.

He said synchronizing the ARMM election with the national election in 2013 will provide time for electoral reforms in the ARMM.