Marcos OKs request to deputize PNP, AFP for BARMM’s plebiscite

Personnel of the military, police, and other law enforcement agencies have been deputized to ensure a peaceful and orderly plebiscite last April 13 on the creation of new towns that now form part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. (Yummie Dingding/PPA Pool/BARMM)

President Marcos has approved the request of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to deputize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and other law enforcement agencies for the plebiscite through Memorandum Order No. 23.

His order concurred with the Comelec Resolution No. 10980 that was seeking police and military

assistance for the plebiscite to ratify the creation of municipalities of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan in BARMM.

“The foregoing law enforcement agencies and other concerned agencies are hereby directed to coordinate and cooperate with the Comelec in the performance of their duties and functions, subject to existing laws, rules and regulations,” said

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who signed the order dated April 8 in behalf of Marcos.

In Resolution No. 10980, the Comelec En Banc requested last Feb. 28 the presidential concurrence in the deputation of the AFP, PNP, and other law enforcement agencies for the conduct of last Saturday’s plebiscite.

The Constitution empowers the poll body to deputize law enforcement agencies and instrumentalities of the government, such as the AFP and PNP, to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections, subject to presidential concurrence.

BARMM’s Parliament enacted last Aug. 17, 2023 the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act (BAA) Nos. 41 to 48 (s. 2023), creating the municipalities of Pahamuddin, Kadayangan, Nabalawag, Old Kaabakan, Kapalawan, Malidegao, Tugunan, and Ligawasan in BARMM.

On Sept. 4, 2023, the Chief Minister of BARMM approved BAA Nos. 41 to 48.

According to the Comelec, a total of 72,658 voters participated in the plebiscite, or a voter turnout of 81.10 percent. Of this number, there were 72,358 who voted yes, 273 voted no, and 27 abstained.

— Raymund Antonio