FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

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FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

Statementof
HisExcellencyBenignoS.AquinoIII
PresidentofthePhilippines
OntheSupremeCourtRuling
onthePostponementoftheARMMElections

WethanktheSupremeCourtforupholdingourefforttobreakthecycleofimpunity,corruptionandpovertyinthe
ARMM. The administration supported the bill to synchronize the ARMM elections with national elections in an
effort to end the vicious cycle of abnormal elections where the mandate of the people is subverted by means of
thecommandvotewieldedbylocalpoliticalfamilies.

Webelievethatiflocalpoliticalfamiliesmustattendtotheirelectionatthesametimethatnationalelectionsare
being conducted, they will be less able to utilize command votes in favor of political patrons to subvert the
nationalwill.

Command voting has contributed to the cycle of impunity, the results of which have been demonstrated in the
region being bloodied by the reign of impunity, as witnessed by the Maguindanao Massacre, in which 57 people
wereallegedlykilledbyalocalpoliticalfamily.Thissameimpunityalsomanifesteditselfintheanomaliesinoffice
of the governor of Maguindanao not being able to account for the release of more than 865 million in cash
advancestoofficers.

And ARMM has been, for so long, a region in which not only impunity, but also poverty, has plagued the region,
withpovertyincidenceamongfamiliesintheARMMreaching38.1%in2009.

The Supreme Court decision gives us a great opportunity to correct these long-standing problems. It is an
opportunitythatwewillnotsquander.

Along with synchronized elections, we are undertaking measures to ensure the long-term stability and equitable
progress of the regionamong them the 8.592 billion pesos that our administration is providing for the ARMM
transition and investment support plan. The fund will pave the way for improving service delivery performance,
reforming and strengthening governance capacities, improving public safety and security, and other socio-
economicprojectstowardensuringpeace,stabilityandinclusiveeconomicgrowthinARMM.

WewillappointOICsinconsultationwithstakeholders;thenationcanrestassuredthattheseOICswillbepeople
of integrity and competencewho will spend their days in office pursuing genuine reform and development. As
we prepare to synchronize ARMM and national elections in 2013, our nation has taken another significant step
intodaylight.Mayallourleaders,atalllevelsandbranchesofgovernment,continuetobeboundbyourcommon
agendaoflastingandequitableprogressfortheFilipinopeople.

October18,2011

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