Selection process for ARMM OICs to continue despite TRO —Robredo

MANILA, Philippines—Despite the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order and the bombing in Cotabato City on Tuesday, Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo said on Wednesday they would continue the process to select the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) officers in charge.

A public forum at the Western Mindanao University in Zamboanga City will be held on September 15 and will feature the seven candidates for acting ARMM governor and seven others for acting ARMM vice governor, according to Robredo.

“Based on the information we gathered, we can continue the selection process and we will resume tomorrow (Thursday, Sept. 15). We are on the homestretch already,” Robredo told the Philippine Daily Inquirer Wednesday.

He said they would eventually submit a shortlist of candidates to President Aquino to fill up the 26 vacant ARMM positions but “appointments will not be issued pending the TRO.”

Robredo chairs the selection committee.

The other members are Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, presidential political adviser Ronaldo LLamas, a civil society representative and one local government representative.