BARMM News
By EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
Short link: https://wp.me/paaccn-p4w
COTABATO CITY, December 27, 2022 — Under the leadership of Chief Minister Ahod Balawag “Al-Hajj Murad” Ebrahim, the Bangsamoro Government showed lots of love for the Philippine National Police (PNP) contingent in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
If you count the ways, its 33 million worth of love in pesos for 11 new police patrol cars for the PNP Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) headquartered at Camp Salipada K. Pendatun, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.
PRO BAR is responsible for peace and order, and security in the BARMM comprising of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi as well as the Special Geographic Area (SGA) made up of 63 barangays or villages in North Cotabato, but under BARMM governance.
Ebrahim, chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), lauded the PNP in the region for its support.
“It is with sincere gratitude that I handover to you these police cars as a symbol of our genuine support in intensifying all the possible measures to serve and protect our Bangsamoro communities,” the Chief Minister said, showing love and appreciation for the PNP, a partner in peace and security of the Bangsamoro Government.
Ebrahim led the turnover today, Tuesday, of the 11 brand new vehicles as the year 2022 is down to just four days before a new year arrives. The turnover was made through the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) headed by Minister Naguib G. Sinarimbo.
In his message at the event, he made sure BARMM’s message of love for the PNP was understood loud and clear.
“These are only a few of the many initiatives that we have decided to extend to our policemen. I believe that to boost the morale and confidence of our authorities, we have to augment the facilities that they are using,” the Chief Minister emphasized.
The Office of the Chief Minister (OCM) provisioned the Php33 million from its Transitional Development Impact Fund (TDIF), which is a contingent fund under the OCM aimed to “create great positive impact to the continuous development of the Bangsamoro Region during the transition period.” Sinarimbo’s MILG is one of the TDIF implementing ministries.
It can be recalled that in October of this year, funded under the MILG’s regular fund, BARMM turned over five units of new patrol cars for PRO BAR and another five vehicles in 2021.
Towards a more secure Bangsamoro region
To implement the patrol cars project, the MILG through Sinarimbo signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the official turnover with PRO BAR Regional Director Police Bring. Gen. John G. Guyguyon and witnessed by Ebrahim and Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua.
The senior minister Macacua, in his own message, stressed the importance of attaining peace and order for the region’s development. Macacua said peace and order is one of the priority concerns of the BARMM Government and the “reason why we are here. We want to enhance the capacity of our police force in order for us to achieve a peaceful environment in our region.”
The Bangsamoro officials behind the implementation of the 11 police cars are some of the first set of Members of the Parliament (MPs) of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA): two units proposed by MP Akmad I. Abas for the Municipalities of Datu Paglas and Pagalungan; one unit proposed by former MP Narciso Co Yu Ekey for Cotabato City Police Office PC Hill; one unit proposed by former MP Tucao Mastura for Sultan Kudarat Municipal Station; one unit proposed by former MP Sittie Shahara Mastura; and six units proposed by former MP Al-Syed Ali for the Municipalities of Bongao, Sibutu, Simunul, and Tandubas at one unit each, and two units for the Municipality of Languyan.
MP Abas pointed out that developments under the leadership of the Bangsamoro Government headed by Ebrahim are already being felt through various development programs and projects, including the meaningful utilization of the TDIF.
Guyguyon, for his part, urged all people in the region to throw full support to the BARMM government who has been “showing high priority in keeping peace in BARMM.”
“To all who do untoward things, it’s high time to support the BARMM government and move forward. (The) Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is now with us, working together to keep the peace. All of us should work together,” the police regional director said.
On the newly turned over new police cars, Guyguyon said that the patrol car units “will steer and enhance the operational readiness and personal protection during operations of the flagship campaign of the national government against terrorism, illegal drugs, and criminality.
“Rest assured that we will continually serving the public with all honesty, honor, and integrity and will use these resources with skill and good judgment,” he added.
MILG Interior Affairs
The police patrol cars will be used by the respective Municipal and City Police Stations of the PRO BAR in their law enforcement operations and in combating criminality in the autonomous region, which is in lined with the MILG’s function of implementing plans, policies, programs, and project to promote public order and safety and disaster preparedness within the territory of the BARMM.t
Sinarimbo said the event is one of the many symbols of unity between the government and the MILF, stating that “as the regional government transitions into a regular government pursuant to the peace agreement, you can see the improving partnership between the MILF, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).”
“We are at a stage that is really far from where we used to be. Ngayon ay panahon ng pagkakaisa at nakikita ninyo ang simbolo ng pagkakaisang ito (Today is the time for unity, and you see the symbol of this unity),” Sinarimbo added, emphasizing that the MILF-led Bangsamoro Government is at the forefront of providing support to the PNP.
Apart from provision of police cars, Sinarimbo explained that the Bangsamoro Government through the MILG’s Interior Affairs Services, also facilitate the construction of police stations and headquarters, provision of fire trucks, and various capacity building activities for the men and women in uniform.
“The partnership between the regional government and law enforcement will continue and this is just one of the many cooperation we will pursue. We are one with the call to improve the peace and security in the region,” he concluded.
The construction of police headquarters within PRO BAR in Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, will start in the first quarter of 2023. (✓)