Comelec to halt preparations for ARMM polls

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections on Tuesday welcomed the Senate’s passage of a bill deferring the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao until 2013.

“We will halt all preparations as we wait for the final approval of the bill,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said at a press conference.

Brillantes said the Comelec expected the postponement issue to be elevated to the Supreme Court but said that the tribunal should make a decision by June 15, the start of the 60-day election period leading to Aug. 8.

“It would be difficult for us to conduct manual elections if we don’t start by June 15,” he said.

He said the Comelec would now have enough time to clean up the ARMM voters’ list.