The Philippine Online Chronicles

Politics in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is always an issue that can spur the most serious debates within the Philippines’ Hall of Congress. It is even worse in the region itself, as local political disputes are usually tainted with bloodshed. However, not only internal politics ignite violence. Since almost four decades ago, the area has been a war zone between armed groups fighting for a Moro homeland and the forces of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP). This certainly makes any political exercise here complicated and highly volatile, especially if it is an election.

The ARMM is composed of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi, and the Islamic City of Marawi. These predominantly Muslim provinces of the Philippines are covered by the Organic Act of 1989, which explicitly allows the region to have its own government although it remains part of Philippine national territory. The governor, its highest chief executive is under the general supervision of the Philippine president. The autonomous status gives it power to impose the Islamic law, Shariah, on all Muslim inhabitants. It is also able to create its own sources of revenues such as taxes, charges and fees.

ARMM elected officials, from the regional governor down to the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly have three-year terms. Therefore, elections are to be regularly held every three years. However, this has become an even more ticklish issue, not because of the political violence ARMM has the reputation for, but for the GRP’s efforts at forging a peace pact with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). An armed secessionist organization long waging war for a separate Moro state, the MILF had come to a point of making a Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domains or MOA-AD with the GRP. It sees the ARMM election as an exercise that displays the Manila-based GRP continuing control of Muslim Mindanao.

In August 2008, despite the MILF’s objections, general elections were held. This was also the first time that an automated voting system was used in all polling precincts. The COMELEC spent about P500 million for the computerization, which the national government highlighted as a pilot project to confirm the viability of having fully computerized general elections in 2010.

Prior to the elections, tension between the MILF and the GRP erupted when the Philippine Supreme Court struck down the MOA-AD as unconstitutional. The series of military encounters that occurred led many to believe that the elections will not take place. However, government forces were able to contain the rebels soon and the elections went through.

Foreign and local observers noted that, compared to previous electoral exercises, the 2008 polls was less violent. The automation is said to be a big factor for such positive news. They also released statements that, while there were still minor cases of fraud, the chances for widespread cheating have been minimized significantly, making the entire exercise a success in the eyes of many Muslims.

This being said, the ARMM will take part of the 2010 national elections.