SC need not intervene in 6 ARMM officials’ resignation—court exec

MANILA, Philippines – “Existing laws” should be followed with respect to six officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao who resigned from their positions after their terms expired on Friday, Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said.

Asked what action the high court would take on the resignations, Marquez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that there was “no need for the SC [Supreme Court]  to act at this time.”

“Regular succession in accordance with existing laws should take place,” Marquez said in a text message.

The temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court against RA 10153, or the law scrapping last August’s scheduled ARMM elections and synchronizing the next one with the national mid-term elections in 2013,  also stopped President Benigno Aquino III from appointing officers-in-charge of the ARMM as originally contemplated by the new law.

The court ruling said the incumbent ARMM officials should remain in their posts in a holdover capacity.

On Friday, Marquez said that the TRO “remains enforced” while the court mulled over the consolidated cases questioning the constitutionality of RA 10153.

Marquez said the holdover principle would be followed “until the court lifts the TRO or is able to decide these cases on their merits,” Marquez told reporters when asked if the holdover capacity of the incumbent officials would begin on October 1.

The six ARMM officials submitted their resignation letters despite an order from Malacañang for them to stay on  in accordance with the TRO.