COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Economic and Development Council’s (BEDC) Peace, Public Order, Safety and Security Committee (PPOSSCom) successfully conducted Monday, January 25, its third regular sectoral committee meeting to discuss the peace and security measures of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) held at Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Conference Hall, Bangsamoro Government Center, this city.
Hussein P. Muñoz, Committee Chair and Minister of BARMM’s Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS), presided the meeting and discussed the responsibility of the Committee to the peace, public order, safety, and security of the region.
“This is an opportunity to move forward with our goals, that we may meet our responsibility to peace, public order, safety, and security to BARMM. It is another day for us to ensure our commitment with this mission enacted and implemented for the welfare of the Bangsamoro,” Muñoz stressed.
BPDA Director General Engr. Mohajirin Ali, Committee Co-Chair and Head of the Technical Secretariat, explained the importance of the committee and our security forces’ role in the development and safety of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
“This committee is very crucial in the moving forward of the development in the BARMM, especially with the mandate and responsibilities of the security on the ground. To see them here, the AFP, PNP, BFP, BJMP, and including the NBI. I am looking forward for a very fruitful discussion of the issues and concerns that currently affecting the BARMM and our effort to move forward in the implementation of programs and projects this year,” Ali said.
Ali also emphasized that the region’s security lies on these security forces especially in the mainland and island provinces.
In line with the commemoration of the Jabidah Massacre and celebration of the Bangsamoro Peace Week, MPOS facilitated the discussion on the plan and action of the Committee for these upcoming events. This resulted to an agreement to draft a resolution to create a technical working group for the commemoration of Jabidah Massacre to be spearheaded by the MPOS and will be composed of one focal person or representative from each ministry, agency, and office.
The Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG) discussed the implementation of the BARMM End Local Armed Conflict (ELAC) Task Force via zoom video teleconference.
Furthermore, PDEA Intelligence Officer V Marlon P. Santos raised their agency’s concern in seeking for support, specifically in the sustainable drug clearing program.
Marlon Poliquit, representative from BJMP-BARMM Office of the Regional Director, presented the “Reinforcing BJMP-BARMM’s Logistical Capability and Technological Advancement.”
“This is to further enhance the deliverance of public safety service in the community, to strengthen capacity in the management of high risks Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), and improve jail security as a whole,” Poliquit emphasized during his presentation.
The concerns of PDEA and BJMP led to the Committee’s agreement to draft a resolution to support these agencies in their programs that would help in improving the peace, public order, safety, and security in the region.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs (MIPA, (MILG), 6th Infantry Division (6ID), and Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) reported the updates on the recent harassment to the indigenous peoples’ communities in Sitio Manguda, Brgy. Itaw, South Upi, Maguindanao.
Also present during the meeting were representatives from the Bangsamoro Darul-Ifta’ (BDI), Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC), Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Mindanao Command (AFP WestMinCom), Police Regional Office – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), Bureau and Fire Protection (BFP-BARMM), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-BARMM). Moreover, Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affair Minister Melanio U. Ulama served as the guest speaker of said committee meeting. (BPDA-BARMM)