Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 6734)
The Autonomous Region established under Republic Act No. 6734 is named the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
The purpose of Republic Act No. 6734 is to establish the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, provide its basic governmental structure within the framework of the Philippine Constitution and national sovereignty, and ensure peace and equality before the law of all people in the Autonomous Region.
The plebiscite is conducted in the provinces of Basilan, Cotabato, Davao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Palawan, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur, and the cities of Cotabato, Dapitan, Dipolog, General Santos, Iligan, Marawi, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, and Zamboanga.
The powers devolved to the Autonomous Region are exercised through the Regional Assembly, the Regional Governor, and the special courts established under the Organic Act.
The Regional Governor or Vice-Governor may be removed from office for culpable violation of the Constitution, the Organic Act, treason, bribery, graft, corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of all the Members of the Regional Assembly.
A Member must be a natural-born citizen of the Philippines; at least 21 years old on election day; able to read and write; a registered voter of the district they seek to represent; and a resident of the district for at least five (5) years immediately preceding the election.
Members of the Regional Assembly serve a term of three (3) years and may not serve more than three (3) consecutive terms.
A Shari'ah Appellate Court is created, along with Shari'ah and tribal courts, to handle cases involving persons, family, and property relations among Muslims and indigenous cultural communities.
The Regional Government is mandated to protect all lands and natural resources possessed or occupied by indigenous cultural communities since time immemorial as ancestral domain and ancestral lands. It also ensures the recognition and enforcement of customary laws and restricts disposal of these lands to nonmembers without Regional Assembly authorization.
The Autonomous Region has the power to create its own sources of revenue, levy taxes, fees, and charges (except income taxes), and receive appropriations, internal revenue allotments, shares from public utilities, block grants, donations, and other forms of aid subject to constitutional and national policy guidelines.