Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 23) — President Rodrigo Duterte said he is fine with the Bangsamoro government getting its own military and police force, but only if they commit to fighting terrorism.
“Alam mo, sa totoo lang, when you are already evolved into something which is really regional at mayroon kayong sariling Armed Forces o police, payag ako. Mag-armas kayo. But you know, you have to kill the terrorists,” Duterte said Monday, a day after a series of blasts hit the autonomous region in Mindanao.
[Translation: You know, to be honest, when you are already evolved into something which is really regional and you have your own Armed Forces or police, I’m fine with that. Arm yourselves. But you know, you have to kill the terrorists.]
The Bangsamoro Organic Law provides for the creation of a police regional office in the Bangsamoro region under the control and supervision of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Its chief will still be appointed by the PNP chief, upon consultation with the Bangsamoro chief minister.
It also provides for a regional office of the National Police Commission, whose head will be appointed by the Interior Secretary.
In contrast, the Bangsamoro Transition Commission had pushed for a police force that answers to both the national and Bangsamoro governments. It also pushed for a Bangsamoro Military Command under the Armed Forces which was not included in the law.
This is a marked departure from Duterte’s previous stance on the Bangsamoro having its own military and police — a proposal he rejected even when he was still Davao City mayor.
Duterte also called on the Bangsamoro government to crack down on terrorism.
“The BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) government should assert its authority at kung ayaw nila, patayin ninyo [if they resist, kill them] because those guys will create trouble. Wala nang katapusan [There’s no end to it,]” Duterte said Monday in a speech in Cotabato City.
He added, “Do not allow them. If you see them in the street, pakiusapan mo. Kapag bumalik pa, putulin mo na ‘yung ulo. Utos ko ‘yan [talk to them. If they return, cut their heads off. That’s my order.]”
Duterte made these statements a day after a series of blasts rocked parts of the Bangsamoro region. The blasts injured 19 people, including eight soldiers, according to the military.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines suspects that the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters — an offshoot of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which is now in power in the BARMM — was behind these attacks.
