Rep. Rodriguez: BBL may allow private armed groups

CONGRESSMAN Rufus B. Rodriguez expressed alarm Thursday that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law  (BBL) may introduce private armed groups in the Bangsamoro.

During the ad hoc Bangsamoro committee hearing, Rodriguez cited a BBL provision that says the Bangsamoro can adapt a community police to maintain peace and order.

“What is the concept of having this community police? What is this community police. Is this the CAFGU( Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit)   that is now in the PNP (Philippine National Police)?Is this a private army?  What is this community Police? Section11 there is a community police. Ano ba ito? (What is this),” Rodriguez said.

PNP Officer in charge, Leonardo Espina denied that the community police is a private armed group, saying that the organization has been using community police  for many years now.

“Itong section 11 is nothing new (This section 11 is nothing new). As we are adopting this as a daily practice. This is community policing. This is also related to patrol daily, etc. This is the primary ingredient in the accomplishment of the two,” Espina said.

National Police Commission vice chairman Edwardo Escueta said that the PNP community police is in accordance to the  R.A. 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, which states that the PNP shall be a community and service oriented organization.

The House of Representative is deliberating over the BBL security provisions discussions of which were suspended in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident which involved the BBL main benefactor, the MILF. Ed  Glorious Cabading, OJT INQUIRER.net /AC