MAGDALO Party-list Representative Gary Alejano
MANILA, Philippines — Though the peace talks between government and the MILF are not yet over, an intelligence report has reached certain congressmen who are former soldiers.
According to Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano, there is an on going recruitment of the youth in Mindanao to join the Bangsamoro police force.
Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said, “According to the AFP intelligence, there were illegal or unauthorized training conducted by the MILF in Mindanao. And as stated by Congressman Sacdalan, there is an ongoing recruitment and they are using Bangsamoro police as a front in order to encourage people in Bangsamoro to join. It might cause alarm to the people in Mindanao; it could be part of their forces should the process collapse.”
The Philippine National Police is in the process of verifying this report.
According to PNP Executive Officer of the Directorate for Intelligence C/Supt Bert Dichaves, “Regarding the report that there is training ongoing involving the MILF, there is a continuing validation on that report, Sir.”
Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Committee of the Lower House of Congress will take away the power of the Bangsamoro Chief Minister to have primary control over the implementation of peace, order and safety in Bangsamoro.
This is contained in Article 11, Section 1 of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law.
According to Ad Hoc Committee Chair Rufus Rodriguez, the said provision is unconstitutional because only the national government and the Philippine National Police are vested with the power or the primary control on the implementation of security in every region and the nation as a whole.
The congressman fears possible adverse implications of said provision, especially since the Bangsamoro will have its own rules in implementing security in their territory.
Rep. Rodriguez said, “What will happen is that, if you have the primary responsibility in the Bangsamoro then it will be the Bangsamoro chief minister who will decide some sort of finality because this is his primary responsibility. What happens now to the PNP Chief?”
The PNP, DILG and NAPOLCOM have no objections to the said proposed amendments.
DILG Public Safety USec. Peter Corvera said, “We have to admit that there might be imperfections with respect to the actual phraseology, but that is what we leave to the Congress to determine.”
Two hearings are set to be held by the Ad Hoc Committee to complete the review of the 18 articles in the BBL. All amendments by the committee on the provisions of the BBL will be voted on by its members on May 11. (GRACE CASIN / UNTV News)