With Maguindanao split, PNP gears up for new prov’l police office

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — Police authorities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are gearing up to create a new provincial police office after the ratification of RA 11550 that divided Maguindanao into two provinces.

Brigadier General John Guyguyon, BARMM police director, said they had strengthened structural changes to uphold the law and guarantee peace and order in the now-divided Maguindanao province.

The people of Maguindanao, in a plebiscite on Sept. 17, voted to create Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (Pro-Bar) has started preparations to staff, restructure, and reorganize the police offices for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.

While preparations are underway, Guyguyon said Pro-Bar “will continue to carry out the security measures in Maguindanao and intensify law enforcement operations while Maguindanao undergoes its transition period.”

He said preparations, in coordination with Camp Crame, include the identification and location of the new Police Provincial Office for Maguindanao del Norte and the development of the organizational structure for each of the new police provincial offices.

It also includes the absorption of subordinate municipal police stations and provincial mobile force companies after the National Police Commission’s directives for the establishment of the two provinces.

Guyguyon said the Maguindanao Police Provincial Office would oversee the peace and order of the whole Maguindanao until such time that a new provincial office in Maguindanao del Norte is established.

Datu Odin Sinsuat town is the provincial capital of Maguindanao del Norte, where the new police provincial office may be established.

“We are finalizing the acquisition of lands for the capitol grounds, capitol buildings, provincial offices, including police officers,” Vice Gov. Ainee Sinsuat told reporters after the “Yes” vote won by a landslide during the plebiscite.

Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the towns of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay. Datu Odin is the proposed capital.

Maguindanao del Sur will be composed of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi.

For Maguindanao del Sur, the current police provincial office will remain in Shariff Aguak town while the capitol stays in Buluan.

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