MANILA, Philippines - A former governor of a province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao warned that President Benigno Aquino III is "courting disaster" by pushing for the postponement of the August 2011 elections in the region.
Islamic Society of the Philippines head Almarim Tillah on Thursday said the people of ARMM may rise against the administration if they are deprived of their right to vote. Tillah is the former governor of Tawi-Tawi.
He said he sees no reason for Malacañang's insistence that the elections be moved other than to ensure their allies' victory in the 2013 midterm elections by appointing to power officers-in-charge whom they can control.
Thousands attend Senate committee hearing in Marawi City.