The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Friday deployed 20,348 policemen and soldiers to ensure the peaceful and orderly conduct of the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite on Jan. 21 and Feb. 6.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde led the police contingent during the send-off ceremony of the securing forces in Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.
With him were Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Presidential Peace Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr., and Commission on Elections Commissioner Al Parreno, among others.
The securing forces are composed of 9,907 policemen and 10,441 soldiers and will be deployed to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Isabela City, Basilan; and Cotabato City for the plebiscite on Monday.
They will also be deployed to secure the next plebiscite on Feb. 6 in Lanao del Norte – except in Iligan City and Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pikit, and Pigkawayan in North Cotabato – and other Bangsamoro areas.
Albayalde said they have not monitored any security threat so far prior to the plebiscite.
However, he said they are not letting their guards down especially with the arrest of an alleged terrorist in Cotabato City Thursday.
“Actually, ang assumption natin diyan there is always a threat kaya nga tayong meron tayong send-off ceremony at maraming troops tayo – more than 20,000 ang tropa natin na ide-deploy for this exercise alone,” Albayalde said.
Madrigal said the Armed Forces is ready to secure the plebiscite.
“Your Armed Forces assures the people that we are all set and ready for this historic event. We have already identified the gaps and have addressed them accordingly,” Madrigal said.
“The send-off ceremony for our troops who will be securing the ratification of the BOL is a proof of our earnest aspiration for a peaceful and successful conduct of the scheduled plebiscite on Monday,” Madrigal added.
“A peaceful Mindanao can be achieved if we will work together for it, let us not waste this chance for the next generation,” Madrigal said.
The BOL, signed by President Duterte in July 2018, creates the Bangsamoro government and grants it fiscal autonomy which will hopefully end the decades-long conflict between armed groups and the national government. (With a report from Francis Wakefield)
