ZAMBOANGA CITY, 4 June 2008 — Authorities in this southern Philippine city has urged the government to remove the headquarters of the Commission on Elections for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) over security concerns.

Mayor Celso Lobregat fears that the presence of opposing politicians could pose a problem in Zamboanga City. He called on the poll body to transfer its headquarters in areas covered by the ARMM.

“Zamboanga City is not even part of the autonomous region,” he said.

The ARMM is composed of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Lanao, Maguindanao and Shariff Kabunsuan provinces, and the cities of Lamitan and Marawi.

Lobregat made the calls after dozens of armed policemen and soldiers escorted Norie Unas, who represented ARMM Gov. Zaldy Ampatuan in filing the politician’s certificate of candidacy on May 29 in Zamboanga City.

Ampatuan was not able go to file his candidacy in person as he was in the party of President Gloria Arroyo when she visited Tawi-Tawi province. Ampatuan, an ally of Arroyo, is seeking reelection in the ARMM polls on Aug. 11.

The security escorts, armed with automatic weapons, were also spotted outside a hotel where Unas’ group was billeted. Unas’ group also caused a huge traffic jam outside the elections headquarters near the Zamboanga City International Airport, witnesses claimed.

But Vidzfar Julie, deputy regional elections chief, said the Commission on Elections is a constitutional body and is not under the Muslim autonomous region.

“We are not under the ARMM government and we will continue to hold office in Zamboanga City unless the Commission of Elections in Manila tells us to transfer,” Julie said.

The presence of large numbers of security personnel from the autonomous region had worried many officials in Zamboanga City. Local politicians usually go around with only one or no bodyguards at all, while government officials from nearby provinces bring only two or three uniformed security escorts.

Followers of warring politicians from the Muslim autonomous region had previously clashed in Zamboanga City.