Press Release
June 2, 2015

Sen. Marcos seeks to ensure Bangsamoro police won't turn into private army

Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos, Jr., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government, today said he would ensure the Bangsamoro police that would be created under the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law won't turn into anybody's private army.

In today's hearing of the committee on BBL, Marcos pointed out that concerns were raised on the provision of the draft BBL giving the Bangsamoro Chief Minister the power of "operational control and supervision" over the Bangsamoro police not granted to any other local government official.

"Kaya naman ginawa ang Philippine National Police at tinanggal ang local control sa police ay para hindi maging private army ang local police ng sinumang nakaupo na elected political official," Marcos stressed.

Based on his experience as Governor of Ilocos Norte, Marcos said that while the provincial government provided support to the Philippine National Police he could not issue any directive to the police in the same manner the PNP provincial director does.

"That is precisely the problem. It is not clear what exactly is the relationship of the Bangsamoro Police when it comes to the chain of command. Where does the Chief Minister comes in the chain of command?" Marcos said.

Marcos noted that even the representatives the Department of Interior and Local Government cannot satisfactorily explain which order will prevail in case of conflicting directives from the Bangsamoro Chief Minister and the PNP Chief.

On the other hand, former undersecretary Senen Bacani, representing the government's peace panel, claimed that under the BBL, the directives of the PNP Chief will prevail.

The senator said the issue should be clarified because it is precisely the blurring of chain of command that led to the Mamasapano tragedy in January this year, where 44 Special Action Force commandos lost their lives in an anti-terrorist operation launched without the knowledge of the Acting PNP Chief and the DILG Secretary.

Marcos also said that another concern is raised over the power of the Bangsamoro Chief Minister to appoint the Bangsamoro police, who in turn have the power to appoint or recommend the appointment of other police officials and the rank and file as well.

Under the draft BBL, the Bangsamoro police will be headed by a Bangsamoro Police Director who will have two deputies. All these officials "will be selected by the Chief Minister".

Police Officers I to Senor Police Officer IV, as well as other personnel for the Bangsamoro police will be appointed by the Bangsamoro Police Director.

To address these concerns Marcos said the committee plans to introduce explicit provision in the BBL not only to clarify the role of the Bangsamoro Chief Minister in the police chain of command, but also the requirements in the hiring of Bangsamoro police.

One way to do this, according to Marcos, is to harmonize BBL provisions on Bangsamoro police with that of Republic Act No. 6975 (An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police Under a Reorganized Department of Interior and Local Government).

Marcos said this would ensure members of the Bangsamoro police would undergo the same manner of selection process and the same qualifications of any regular PNP member.

"The critical point here is we want a consistency across the country about the quality of our policemen," Marcos said.

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