PNP confident BOL plebiscite will be peaceful

January 7, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said they are confident the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite will be “peaceful”.

In a press briefing in Camp Crame, PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said “everything is in place” and they are ready for the conduct of the plebiscite in Mindanao.

“Well first of all, we have so many police force placed in Mindanao for the conduct of the plebiscite. And we are in constant communication with the Comelec (Commission on Elections),” Albayalde said.

The PNP chief said aside from the declaration of martial law in the region, they will impose other security measures.

Albayalde said 18 municipalities and cities were considered as hotspots.

“(It's) Not necessarily that these 18 municipalities and cities will be under Comelec control. So far, what we know that is under the Comelec control is Daraga (Albay) because of the specific instruction of  President (Rodrigo Duterte),” he said.

The plebiscite will be held on January 21 and February 6 and once ratified, the BOL will pave the way for the replacement of the ARMM with an MILF-led Bangsamoro Autonomouse Region in Muslim Mindanao. Ella Dionisio/DMS