BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW: Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, listens to Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Central Committee chair, during Monday’s (May 18, 2015) hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Alonto said they stand together with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.(MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The provision in the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) granting the Bangsamoro chief minister operational control and supervision over the region’s police must be removed, a lawmaker said.
Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat said putting the control of the police at the hands of the Bangsamoro chief minister is dangerous as this would give him too much power.
“Dapat tanggalin ito. Iyung puder na iyon ng operational control, it is given to the municipal and city mayors. It is not even given to the provincial governor,” Lobregat said.
“Lahat ng munisipyo sa Bangsamoro siya ang mag-eemploy at magde-deploy ng kapulisan? Eh talagang maging super powerful nitong chief minister na ito.”
The draft BBL being voted upon in the House ad hoc committee retains the provision giving the Bangsamoro chief minister operational control and supervision over the region’s police.
Lawmakers said the police power was already devolved in the law creating the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which the BBL seeks to replace with a new Bangsamoro region.
Power over the police control in the proposed region became one of the most contentious provisions in the BBL in the wake of the Mamasapano clash last January 25, where 44 elite police commandos died in a clash with Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fighters.
The clash has triggered doubts towards the MILF and its intentions.
BANGSAMORO BASIC LAW: Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, listens to Datu Abul Khayr Alonto, Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Central Committee chair, during Monday’s (May 18, 2015) hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. Alonto said they stand together with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law.(MNS photo)
A proposal by Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon to remove the provision creating a regional command for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was thumbed down by his colleagues.
However, after initially being rejected, Biazon’s move to strike down a provision giving the Bangsamoro chief to request to the President to call upon the AFP was approved on second voting.
The controversial provision regarding the establishment of coordination protocols for the movement of the AFP in the Bangsamoro region, meanwhile, was no longer in the draft BBL that was being voted upon. (MNS)