Statement of Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr.,

ON THE PROPOSED POSTPONEMENT OF THE ELECTIONS IN AUTONOMOUS REGION ON MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM)

The issue of the Autonomous Region on Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections has once more come to the fore. Many officials in the administration have made very strong representations to me to continue to treat as urgent the measure for the postponement of the ARMM elections (HB 4146) It is therefore my intention to issue the committee report as soon as possible. I had hoped to have done it sometime next week.

However, there is a need to conduct further hearings so as to provide the bases for any conclusions in the eventual committee report. I have therefore scheduled a committee hearing in Marawi City at the earliest date possible which is on Thursday May 19, 2011.

I am confident that after that hearing the Committee on Local Government will have the proper bases for a complete committee report which I will bring to the floor soon after the hearing in Marawi.