Your Excellencies,
Mr. Chairman,

Thank you all for graciously responding to my invitation to today’s briefing on the recently held elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to COMELEC Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Commissioner Tuason, Acting Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Rene Sarmiento, former AFP Chief of Staff General Efren Abu, who was there during the elections, and Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar of the DILG, for being with us this afternoon.

They will brief us on the outcome of the ARMM elections held a few weeks ago.

I am pleased to tell you that this year’s elections were peaceful, honest and orderly.  President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo commended the ARMM people, the Commission on Elections, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines as well as the teachers for their dedication, support and cooperation that led to the successful conduct of the ARMM elections.

Presidential Spokesperson Secretary Ignacio Bunye observed that: “Many critics have said that a peaceful elections in the ARMM is not possible.  But our people in the ARMM – both in government and in civil society – have proven those detractors wrong and successfully transformed a possibility into a reality.”

I share the sentiments of Secretary Bunye:  Indeed, the recent ARMM elections is a triumph of democracy above the partisan noise and shows the maturity and great potential of regional autonomy as enshrined in our Constitution.

The conduct of the ARMM elections is a concrete manifestation of the Philippine Government’s commitment to the full implementation of the 1996 Peace Agreement with the Moro National Liberation Front.

The positive outcome of these peaceful ARMM elections is a significant step towards the full empowerment of our Muslim brothers that is essential to a just and lasting peace in the Southern Philippines.

With the sustained help of our peace and development partners, the MNLF and the OIC, we are positive that we can fully realize our shared vision of  transforming Muslim Mindanao into a region of peace, understanding, progress and prosperity.

Again, let me express my thanks to Your Excellencies of the diplomatic community, the OIC, especially to the countries and peoples you ably represent, for your commitment to building on and consolidating the gains of peace in the Southern Philippines.

May I now request Chairman Abalos to brief us further on the outcome of the ARMM Elections.

Thank you. END