Peace panel chair Miriam Coronel-Ferrer clarified that the Bangsamoro police will not be a separate entity from the Philippine National Police (PNP) as she debunks allegations of the unconstitutionality of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
“It will be set up as a regional command of the PNP similar to all other regional police commands in the country like the one in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM),” Coronel-Ferrer said citing Article XVI, Section 2 of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).
“Consistent with the Constitution, the Bangsamoro police force will be under the command and direction of the PNP chief and the administrative control and supervision of the National Police Commission. The recruitment, training and promotion of personnel, the acquisition of firearms and other adjunct services shall remain under the PNP’s jurisdiction,” Coronel-Ferrer said.
The chief negotiator noted, however, that the operational control of the Bangsamoro police will reside in the chief executive of the regional government.
“Operational control and supervision over the local police, including deployment of police units within the area or jurisdiction are powers given to local chief executives under the PNP law, or Republic Act 6975 as amended by Republic Act 8551,” Coronel-Ferrer said. ”In the proposed law, operational control and supervision of the Bangsamoro Police will be exercised by the Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro.”
According to House Bill 4994, the Bangsamoro government shall have the primary responsibility for public order and safety within the region. Defense and security, however, shall be the responsibility of the Central Government.
