Palace to appeal SC move to stop law postponing ARMM polls

MANILA, Philippiines—Malacañang said on Tuesday it might appeal the Supreme Court ruling that stopped the Palace from implementing a law synchronizing the elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao with the mid-term polls in May 2013.

“It is unfortunate. But we have options available to us, including a motion for reconsideration. We will have to live with it,” Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Eduardo de Mesa said.

President Aquino asked Congress to pass the law postponing the ARMM elections – which should have been held on August 8 – until the next mid-term polls in May 2013, believing that the postponement would give his government and the provinces constituting ARMM time to institute political reforms. The law that postponed the ARMM polls also gave Aquino the power to appoint officers in charge to the posts of ARMM governor, vice governor and members of the regional legislative assembly.