.
.

Comelec considering manual elections for ARMM

from NAMFREL Election Monitor Vol.2, No.12

.
As there is no certainty yet whether the ARMM election would be held as scheduled in August, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr. said that they are now considering having a manual election for ARMM, if the final decision regarding its postponement comes not until June. Brillantes said the Comelec wants to automate the ARMM elections but it would be “taking a very high risk” if it would proceed, given the uncertainty of whether or not the elections would push through. “We do not want a very tight timeline because it may only lead to problems
or failure of the automation. We do not want to take that risk also,” Brillantes said.

Aside from the manual process, the Comelec is also considering implementing the "open election system" (OES). The manual process covers voting, counting, and canvassing, while in the OES, voting and counting are done manually but transmission and canvassing of ballots will be automated.

Brillantes said the Comelec could only wait until the first week of June for the Senate to resolve the issue. On Friday, May 27, Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, released a statement saying that his committee will release their report the following week for the senators to vote on. Marcos also said that they have scheduled one last hearing for Tuesday, May 31, on the bills seeking to postpone the ARMM elections. It will be held in Manila, and high ranking officials from the administration have been invited, "to (give) the executive branch of government the last say, so to speak, to explain exactly why they had made this proposal to cancel the ARMM elections scheduled for August of this year in favor of Malacañang appointees," according to Marcos. Both the Senate and the lower House are scheduled to go on recess starting on June 10 until July 24.

On Wednesday, May 25, the Comelec closed the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (CoCs) for the ARMM elections, with 14 candidates for governor and 16 for vice governor, with no official candidates coming from President Aquino's Liberal Party.
 .
The 14 candidates seeking to get elected ARMM governor are: 
1. Ashmaira Mayasa Abdullah
2. Mamintal Alonto Adiong (incumbent Lanao del Sur governor)
3. Saad Ibrahim Amate
4. Pangalian Macaorao Balindong
5. Ephraim Baldomero Defino
6. Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman (former Anak Mindanaw party-list representative) 
7. Alvarez Silal Isnaji (former OIC ARMM governor)
8. Ansaroden Magangcong Sani Banuas Luman Moner 
9.  Pax Pakung Sandigan Mangudadatu (former Sultan Kudarat governor and representative)
10.  Kadra Asani Masihul
1.  Datu Habib Sarifuddin Samanodi Maulana
12.  Elsie New Orejudos
13.  Saidamen Balt Pangarungan (former Lanao del Sur OIC governor)
14.  Sahiron Dulah Salim (former police director)   
.
For Vice Governor, 16 candidates have filed their COCs: 
1. Acting ARMM governor Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Alonto Adiong
2. Mikunug Pangcatan Ampao
3. Arab Dimasimpun Ampasao
4. Shariffa Ziola Anding Bago
5. Datu Pelaez Alo Carudin
6. Margarita “Tingting" Delos Reyes Cojuangco (former Tarlac governor)
7. Bobby Mana-ngaran Datimbang
8. Alikhan Awar Dimaro
9.  Gani Usman Gaddung
10.  Abdulbasit Ampaso Hadjinor
11.  Omar Tani Hassiman
12.  Fatani Sultan Abdul Malik
13.  Basher Dimalaang Manalao (former Lanao del Sur governor)
14.  Kano Pasandalan Nor
15.  Marconi Curso Paiso Al Haj
16. Abdusakur II Abubakar Tan     
.
For Assemblymen in Maguindanao (note: we do not have the names yet for the other provinces): 
1st District 
1. Abdulradzak Tomawis
2. Ronnie Sinsuat
3. Cahar Ibay
4. Abel Mastura 
.   
2nd District 
1. Midtimbang, Midpantao
2. Solaiman Sandigan
3. Borgiva Tasmi Datumanong
4. Abubacar Paglas
5. Guimid Matalam
6. Abdulwahal Alan Sabal
7. Udtog Kawit
8. Mashur Biruar
9. Tungal Mangudadatu Piang
10. Pike Mentang 
(Sources: PDI, Tempo, GMA News, Comelec)
.
 
.
.
.