AFP, PNP deputized by Comelec for 2019 BOL plebiscite, May elections

December 29, 2018

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been tasked by the Commission on Elections to ensure an orderly Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in January 2019 and the national mid-term elections five months later.

This development came after Friday’s signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), to this effect, between officials of Comelec, AFP and the PNP at the Comelec.

“The AFP and the PNP has been officially deputized by Comelec to secure peace and order during 2019 mid-term elections as well as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite,’ AFP Public Affairs Office (PAO) chief, Col. Noel Detoyato said.

AFP chief Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., and the PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde signed the memorandum of agreement.

Topping the military lists of security concerns during the 2019 elections are the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and the private armed groups being maintained by political warlords, as well as the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

The BOL plebiscite is scheduled on Jan. 21. The law will replace the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao with a new Muslim region. DMS