Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 31) – The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) questioned alleged restrictions imposed by Bangsamoro officials on police officers serving warrants in Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)-held areas.
PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. on Wednesday said the police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have reportedly been told to seek permission from local officials before conducting operations in certain areas.
He shared this to reporters as he provided more details on Tuesday’s ambush in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, where two police officers – including the town’s police chief – were killed as they were about to serve warrants of arrest.
“Apparently, meron pong claim na ‘yun pong pinasok ng ating kapulisan is an MILF territory,” Azurin said in a Malacañang media briefing. “And sinasabi po nila doon na kailangan pala nagpapaalam ang ating kapulisan, kasundaluhan, kung papasok doon.”
[Translation: Apparently, there’s a claim that the area which our policemen entered is an MILF territory. And they’re saying that the police and the army must seek permission first before going there.]
The MILF currently leads the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) which is the region’s interim government until 2025. The BTA is the political entity which replaced the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 2019 through the Bangsamoro Organic Law after decades of armed conflict.
Azurin said BARMM officials should “show sincerity to this government” and be at the forefront of efforts to go after suspected criminals.
“Kung hindi nila miyembro itong mga hinuhuli na ‘to, bakit kailangan po natin magpaalam? Dapat sila na po ‘yung humuhuli. ‘We surrender and we try to help’ – dapat gano’n po ang tinitignan po ng ating mga kasamahan po sa BARMM,” the police chief added.
[Translation: If the suspects aren’t their members, why would we need to seek permission? They should be the ones catching these people. ‘We surrender and we try to help’ – that should be how our officials in BARMM approach this.]
Azurin said the ambush in Ampatuan on Tuesday also left three other police officers wounded. He said the three are in stable condition.
CNN Philippines is seeking comment from BARMM officials.
