Section 1March 4, 1999, Sec./Art. 1

Amendment to Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7647.- Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7647, as amended, is hereby further amended by fixing the term of office for officials elected on September 9, 1996, to read as follows:

"Sec. 1. The regular elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, shall be held on the second Monday of March, 1993 and every three (3) years thereafter. Their terms of office shall commence at noon of the thirty-first of March next following their election and shall expire at noon of the thirty-first of March three (3) years thereafter pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Six thousand seven hundred thirty-four, otherwise known as the Organic Act of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

However, for the year nineteen hundred and ninety-six, the elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly shall be held on September 9, 1996.

The regional governor, regional vice-governor and the members of the Regional Legislative Assembly elected in nineteen hundred and ninety-six shall assume office at twelve oclock noon on the thirtieth day of September next following their election and shall end at twelve oclock noon on the thirtieth day of September 1999: Provided, That effective 1999, the regular elections for regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), shall be held on the second Monday of September and every three (3) years thereafter pursuant to Republic Act No. 6734, otherwise known as the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao: Provided, however, That the incumbent regional governor, regional vice-governor and members of the Regional Legislative Assembly elected in September 1996 shall continue in office until September 30, 1999."