i3th Congress of the Republic 
) 
of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
'134 
P,L!G 10 88 :38 
r? 
The Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (R.A. No. 9054) 
provides for the holding of the first regular elections for elective regional officials on the 
second Monday of September, 2001 (Article XVIII, Section 7). However, this provision 
was subsequently amended with the enactment of R.A. No. 9140, which set the first 
regular elections for Regional Governor, Regional Vice-Governor, and Members of the 
Regional Legislative Assembly of the ARMM on the last Monday of November, 2001 
(Le., 26 November 2001). The ARMM officials elected under R.A. 9140 commenced 
their terms of office on 4 December 2001. 
The bill proposed herein conforms with the mandate of Section 8, Article X of the 
1987 Constitution, which expressly mandates that "the term of office of local 
officials ... shall be three years", and of Section 7, Article VI1 of R.A. No. 9054 as well, 
which provides for the terms of office of the elective officials of the ARMM for a period 
of three (3) years. 
In this bill, the date of the first regular elections (i.e., last Monday of November, 
2001) as provided in R.A. 9140 and the date when elected officials therein commenced 
their term have been put into consideration so that the incumbent officials elected 
under R.A. 9140 may be able to serve their full three-year term in consonance with the 
Constitution and the Organic Act. Hence, the date for the second regular elections for 
elective officials of the ARMM is herein set Qdtthe last Monday of November, 2004 and 
date of assumption of office of the elective officials to be elected under this proposed 
he first Monday of December, 2004. Subsequent elections are accordingly 
set three (3) years thereafter the second regular elections. 
Approval of this bill is therefore earnestly sought, 
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'.. 


13th Congress of the Republic 
) 
of the Philippines 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
e it enacted by th 
e ~ ~ ~ § ~ ~ ~ a t i v e §  
of the 
SECTION 1. Amendment to Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9140. Section 2 of 
Republic Act No. 9140 is hereby amended by setting the date of regular elections for 
elective officials of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and hence 
fixing the term of office of the said officials elected on 26 November 2001 first regular 
elections in the ARMM, to read as follows: 
- 
"Section 2. Regular Elections 
There shall be regular 
elections for Regional Governor, Regional Vice Governor, and 
Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous 
Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). The second regular elections 
shall be held on the last Monday of November, 2004. Subsequent 
elections shall be held every three (3) years thereafter. " 
.
.
 . 


SEC. 2. Term of Office, The terms of office of elected Regional Governor, 
Regional Vice Governor, and Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the 
ARMM shall be three (3) years pursuant to Article X, Section 8 of the Constitution. 
SEC. 3. Assumption of Ofice. The term of office of the Regional Governor, 
Regional Vice Governor, and Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the 
ARMM elected under this Act shall commence at noon of the first Monday of December 
next following their election and shall expire at noon of the first Monday of December, 
three (3) years thereafter. The same shall also apply to the term of office of ARMM 
official 
. 
selected 
in 
subsequent 
elections. 
SEC. 4. 
The incumbent Regional Governor, Regional Vice-Governor and 
Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim 
Mindanao shall continue in office, unless sooner removed or suspended for cause, 
pursuant to existing laws and until their successors shall have been duly elected and 
qualified. 
SEC. 5 Rules and Regu/ations The Commission on Elections shall promulgate the 
necessary rules and regulations to carry the purpose of this Act. 
SEC. 6. Separabilii’y Clause. 
If any of the provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional, the provisions not affected thereby shall remain valid and binding. 
SEC. 
7. Repealing C/ause. All laws, 
acts, 
decrees, 
executive orders, 
administrative regulations and all other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect upon publication in at least two (2) 
national newspapers of general circulation, and one (1) local newspaper of general 
circulation in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 
Approved,