ARMM Elections - Postponed yet again.

In ARMM's election history it is the nth time the government is deferring the ARMM gubernatorial elections.

Commission on Elections commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer told abs-cbn's News.com/Newsbreak postponing the scheduled Aug. 11 ARMM elections is not advisable for a number of reasons, aside from the fact that the Comelec has already spent more than P1 billion for the preparations, information campaign, purchase of automated machines, printing of ballot, and others for the ARMM polls, “we are telling the people that we are not politically decided to fully automate for the 2010 presidential race.”

Echoing the sentiment aired by Comelec chair Jose Melo, Ferrer said the ARMM polls would provide the necessary lessons needed in automating the elections in 2010. “I’m convinced that we should proceed (with the elections),” he said.

GMA on Tuesday announced her desire to postpone the elections following a meeting with political leaders in Maguindanao province and as per GMA, government officials said the separatist groups Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are pushing for the postponement of the ARMM elections so as not to hamper the peace negotiations.

I personally find this surprising since there has not been feedback from both the MNLF and MILF during various consultations with the different stakeholders in ARMM. Peace negotiations are unpredictable and changeable and postponing the ARMM elections is no assurance that the peace process would speed up. Comelec also cited that the postponement being sought is open-ended which could mean that it can be deferred indefinitely. DUH. Reports are abuzzing that it may be held simultaneously with the 2010 national elections. Which defeats the purpose of automizing the said ARMM elections to prepare everyone for 2010. The automated polls in the ARMM was seen as a dry run for the modernized elections in May 2010. Comelec initially refused to automate the elections there, citing lack of time and budget but Congress gave the poll commission all the powers to push through with it. Thus, spending millions of taxpayers money.

Is this making sense to you? Because frankly all this is giving me a nosebleed. Seriously.

So to GMA and her cohorts... MAKE UP YOUR FREAKING MINDS ALREADY! Sick people!