DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
P H O TO  R E L E A S E
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                         Tel. No. 834-4000                                                                                   www.dfa.gov.ph

SFA-AGR-Aug-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         19 August 2005

ARMM ELECTIONS WERE PEACEFUL, HONEST AND ORDERLY – SECRETARY ROMULO INFORMS OIC AMBASSADORS

22 August 2005 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo briefs the Heads of Missions of Member Countries of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) on the results of the recent elections in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.  Meeting the envoys at the Bulwang Blas F. Ople-DFA, Secretary Romulo said that “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.” Joining Secretary Romulo during the briefing are COMELC Chairman Benjamin Abalos, Acting Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Undersecretary Rene Sarmiento, former AFP Chief of Staff General Efren Abu, Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar of the DILG, and DFA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Rafael Sequis. (Tony Bosa)

/jay