ARMM history and organization

Published August 11, 2008 1:09pm

ARMM HISTORY ARMM's precursors

Amid escalating hostilities between government forces and the MNLF in the 1970s, President Marcos issued a proclamation forming an Autonomous Region in the Southern Philippines. However, in a plebiscite, the people opted against it and chose to remain in the existing Western and Central Mindanao regions.
In 1979, Batas Pambansa No. 20 created the Regional Autonomous Government in Western and Central Mindanao regions.

ARMM history

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was created a few years after the Aquino administration initiated dialogues with the Moro National Liberation Front to resolve the Muslim secessionist problem.
ARMM was created in 1989 by virtue of The Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RA 6734). In a plebiscite, only four provinces out of the several areas proposed to be included in ARMM opted to join the area of autonomy: Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
ARMM conducted its first elections in 1990.

RA 9054 amended RA 6734 in 2001. The amended law expanded ARMM's area of autonomy. In a plebiscite, Basilan and Marawi City (in Lanao del Sur) opted to join ARMM.
RA 9054 lapsed into law, without the signature of President Arroyo.
In 2006, a new province was carved out of Maguindanao: Shariff Kabunsuan. Shariff Kabunsuan became the sixth province of ARMM, joining Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.
In July 2008, the Supreme Court promulgated a ruling that voided the creation of Shariff Kabunsuan. Comelec says the Supreme Courtâ€™s ruling has no effect on the ARMM elections as the decision is not yet final.

ARMM ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Regional Governor

1 regional governor
chief executive of the regional government
assisted by a cabinet not exceeding 10 members
appoints the members of the cabinet, subject to confirmation by the Regional Legislative Assembly
has control of all the regional executive commissions, agencies, boards, bureaus and offices

Executive Council

advises the Regional Governor on matters of governance of the autonomous region
Executive Council = regional governor + 1 regional vice governor + 3 deputy regional governors (each representing the Christians, the Muslims, and the indigenous cultural communities)
the regional governor and regional vice governor have a three-year term; maximum of three terms; deputies' terms are co-terminus with the term of the regional governor who appointed them

Regional Legislative Assembly

legislative branch of the ARMM government
composed of regular members (3 members/district) and sectoral representatives
three-year term; maximum of three consecutive terms
exercises legislative power in the autonomous region, except on the following matters:

ARMM powers and basic principles

As stated in RA 9054, ARMM "shall remain an integral and inseparable part of the national territory of the Republic"
The President exercises general supervision over the Regional Governor.
The Regional Government has the power to create its own sources of revenues and to levy taxes, fees, and charges, subject to Constitutional provisions and the provisions of RA 9054.
The Shari ah applies only to Muslims; its applications are limited by pertinent constitutional provisions (prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment).
In July 2008, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a section in RA 9054 which granted the ARMM Regional Assembly the power to create provinces and cities. The court held that creating provinces and cities is a power that only Congress can exercise. (Comelec says the Supreme Court's ruling has no effect on the ARMM elections as the decision is not yet final.)

Sources:ARMM website, RA 9054, RA 6734, NSCB, Supreme Court, Commission on Elections