Mindanao execs: We did our jobs vs terror

Jim Saliman and Esmael Mangudadatu. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

COTABATO CITY—Officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and in Central Mindanao have asked the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to hold the implementation of its order stripping them of their authority over the local police while they seek clarification.

Several Mindanao governors and mayors were dismayed by the Napolcom’s move, insisting they were working hard to fight illegal drugs and terrorism in their communities.

Governors Jim Saliman of Basilan province, Imelda Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte province and Esmael Mangudadatu of Maguindanao province and Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said the Napolcom failed to check records of their performance.

Other governors in the Napolcom list were Abdusakur Tan II of Sulu province and Datu Pax Mangudadatu of Sultan Kudarat province.

Also stripped of their authority over the police were 28 mayors in Maguindanao, 37 in Lanao del Sur province, 22 in Lanao del Norte, 12 in Sultan Kudarat, 13 in Sulu, 10 in Basilan and nine in Tawi-Tawi province.

The names and positions on the Napolcom list, however, were not updated and included former officials. Among them were former Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr., instead of incumbent Gov. Soraya Alonto Adiong; and former Tawi-Tawi Gov. Nurbert Sahali, instead of incumbent Gov. Rashidin Matba.

National security

Resolutions No. 2017-334 and No. 2017-335 of the Napolcom cited alleged involvement of local officials in “acts inimical to national security” as reason for the revocation of their powers over the local police.

The Napolcom resolution said the officials allegedly provided “material support to criminal elements,” including the Maute terror group, whose members attacked Marawi City on May 23.

President Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao after Islamic State-inspired terrorists, led by the Maute group and Abu Sayyaf bandits, took over sections of Marawi. The fighting between government forces and terrorists entered its 46th day on Friday.

Failure

Rogelio Casurao, Napolcom vice chair and executive officer, said the deputation of local officials as Napolcom representatives was suspended “for their failure to suppress terroristic acts and prevent lawless violence in their territories.”

Such, he said, endangered the lives and security of their constituents.

Under the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, governors and mayors are automatically deputized as representatives of the Napolcom who are given the duty to inspect police forces and units, conduct audit, and exercise other functions authorized by the commission.

Sayadi said her city was among the first local governments to express support for the declaration of martial law.

“We were not remiss in our responsibilities against illegal drugs as directed by President Duterte when he assumed [office],” she said. “We have done so much against illegal drugs, against terrorism. We formed Task Force Cotabato to secure the city from terrorists.”

Maguindanao Gov. Mangudadatu said his lawyers were drafting a motion for reconsideration to the Napolcom directive.

Coordination

Sultan Kudarat’s Mangudadatu, who chairs the Central Mindanao regional peace and order council, said he had nothing against the order.

“We have done our part, but our efforts may not be enough. So if they think it was right, no problem with me,” Mangudadatu said, adding his support for the police would continue.

Saliman said the Napolcom must closely coordinate with the police in the provinces and cities so they would not issue inaccurate information.

He said he would let the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police speak for him as far as Basilan’s peace and order situation was concerned.

Dimaporo said the officials would write the President to explain their position.

“The reasons given by Napolcom were vague and we were not even called to give statements before the decision was made,” she said.

“When [fighting in] Marawi broke out, we were the first to convene a meeting to address the possible spillover [of fighting to Iligan City],” she said.

Maguindanao’s Mangudadatu said his lawyers would cite in the appeal the accomplishments of the provincial peace and order council in addressing peace and security issues that prevented the entry of members of the Maute group in Maguindanao from neighboring Lanao del Sur.

Mangudadatu said he was among the first to condemn the Marawi siege. He said the police and military, on his directives, prevented attempts by militants to raise Islamic State flags in remote areas in Maguindanao.

But Mayor Zamzamin Ampatuan of Rajah Buayan in Maguindanao supported he Napolcom order.

“Stripping governors and mayors in [the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] and nearby provinces of supervision over the police is a precautionary measure,” he said.

“The threat of Islamist-inspired terrorism requires extraordinary approach to contain it,” he added. —REPORTS FROM EDWIN O. FERNANDEZ, JULIE S. ALIPALA, ALLAN NAWAL, RICHEL UMEL AND CHARLIE C. SEÑASE AND JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE IN MANILA