By Chito Chavez
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) said on Tuesday it has approved the reorganization and renaming of the Police Regional Office Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO ARMM) to Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR).
National Police Commission (MANILA BULLETIN)
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary and Napolcom Chairman Eduardo M. Año signed Resolution No. 2019-634, which approved the reorganization pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 11054, known as the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.”
The law provides for the establishment of political entity and basic structure of government in recognition of the justness and legitimacy of the cause of the Bangsamoro people and aspirations of Muslim Filipinos and all indigenous cultural communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Napolcom Vice-Chairman and Executive Officer Rogelio T. Casurao said that, in consonance with Section 2, Article XI of RA 11054, the PRO BAR shall exist as an integral part of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
It shall be composed of the existing PNP territorial units in the region while the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members will be integrated into the PNP.
Casurao noted other residents of the Region who may be recruited into the PRO BAR based on the guidelines set forth under R.A. Nos. 6975 and 8551.
The PRO BAR shall enforce laws enacted by Congress and the Regional Legislative Assembly of BARMM relative to the protection of lives and properties of the people; maintain law and order and ensure public safety; investigate and prevent crimes, arrest criminal offenders, bring criminal suspects to justice and assist in their prosecution; effect other arrests, searches and seizures in accordance with the Constitution and pertinent laws; detain persons for a period not exceeding what is prescribed by law, inform detainees of their rights and observe the human rights of all people in the region; implement pertinent laws and regulations on firearms and explosives control; exercise all other functions provided by law; and perform other functions as directed by the Chief, PNP.
Casurao further explained the PRO BAR shall be organized in accordance with the approved organizational structures and staffing patterns of Police Regional Offices and shall be provided with an additional Regional Mobile Force Battalion to be used for Internal Security Operations and as reinforcement/support of the provincial, city and municipal police units for public safety operations, and special police operations in the provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Also, the Regional Director of PRO BAR shall exercise administrative and operational control over the following PNP Offices and their respective subordinate units within the BARMM and Cotabato City: Basilan Police Provincial Office (PPO), Sulu PPO, Maguindanao PPO, Tawi-Tawi PPO, Lanao del Sur PPO, and Cotabato City Police Office.
“The different Municipal Police Stations of North Cotabato PPO will continue to exercise operational control and supervision over the 63 barangays under their respective jurisdictions which opted to join the BARMM until such time that the municipalities will be merged to form new municipalities or be absorbed by existing municipalities that joined the BARMM,” Casurao concluded.