Duterte: No Bangsamoro police, military

PATIKUL, Sulu, Philippines — The Bangsamoro entity under the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will not have its own police and military units, according to President Duterte.

“I do not mean to say I do not trust you, but whether you like it or not there’s one thing I cannot give – the regional armed forces and police. It stays with the commander-in-chief,” Duterte said during a meeting with various sectors at the provincial capitol in this town on Monday.

 “The police and military should belong to only one government,” Duterte stressed.

The President also expressed concern on the leadership structure under the new Bangsamoro entity, citing various Muslim and lumad tribes in Mindanao.

“I am anxious. Would it do well to mix it all in one pot? Meaning to say, are you Joloanos ready to be governed by a Maranao?” he asked.

 Duterte said he would conduct more dialogues with various stakeholders to address the issue. 

The President said he wants the BBL signed into law this year even as he stressed the need to make it acceptable to all.

The BBL aims to create a Bangsamoro political entity with enhanced autonomy.

The President had earlier warned that failure to pass the BBL would bring more conflict in Mindanao and provide terrorists the opportunity to recruit new members. – Alexis Romero