Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines – The government has formally opened applications and nominations for the caretaker officials who will manage the affairs of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao during a 21-month period leading to the 2013 national mid-term elections elections.
Applications and nominations may be submitted not later than 5 p.m. of August 26 through the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mindanao Affairs and Special Concerns at the Department of the Interior and Local Government central office in Quezon City
Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said the required forms are available for download at the DILG Web site at https://www.dilg.gov.ph
and the Office of the President Web site at https://www.op.gov.ph.
Among the officer-in-charge positions to be filled are those of regional governor, regional vice governor and 24 members of the regional legislative assembly.
Even before the official opening of nominations, Robredo said the DILG had accepted some 40 applications and nominations to the ARMM governor position alone.
Robredo, a member of the ARMM screening committee tasked by President Benigno Aquino III to select and recommend candidates, said the applicants or nominees “must possess proven competence, integrity, reliability and probity.”
The names of applicants will be published in the media before August 31.
From September 1 to 11, the screening committee will assess them and come up with a short list of three potential candidates for each position. They will then be subjected to media interviews for public scrutiny.
Robredo said the three nominees/applicants would be ranked and separately endorsed to the Speaker and Senate President, who would submit then their respective recommendations for the approval and signature of President Aquino.
“To those who will be appointed as OICs, they have at least 21 months to prove their worth in leadership and governance,” Robredo said.
“They could be removed from their posts if they fall short of what is expected of them; and I propose that each of them be barred from running in any elective post in the coming ARMM mid-term polls in May 2013,” he added.
Robredo said the appointed OICs would be extended full support by the President through an “Investment Support Program” to promote public-partnerships in economic development, institutionalize vital governance reforms, and increase the reach, access and quality of public services.