PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. (File photo)
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is gearing up for the creation of two new police offices following last weekend's successful Maguindanao plebiscite.
In a press briefing in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said he had already directed the Directorate for Plans headed by Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac to prepare the restructuring and reorganization of the police offices for Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur.
"The proposal to have two new provinces from Maguindanao has been officially ratified through a peaceful plebiscite that voted an overwhelming approval of the measure. With this prospect of having yet another political subdivision in the geographical landscape, the PNP will need to adjust accordingly to the letter and intent of Section 25 of Republic Act 6975 that provides. At the provincial level, there shall be a PNP office, each headed by a provincial director," Azurin said.
Azurin said the PNP's preparations include the creation of a staffing pattern for each of the new Police Provincial Office that would be created, as well as the absorption of subordinate Municipal Police Stations and Provincial Mobile Force Companies.
Azurin, meanwhile, said the successful plebiscite shows that the province is ready to embrace efforts toward further development.
“I am very happy that the people of Maguindanao went out of their way to vote and now, we will see Maguindanao's division into two independent provinces. So it's a welcome development for everyone because we can see that the leaders there saw the need to respond to the call for progress because Maguindanao is a very rich province,” Azurin said.
The Sept. 17 plebiscite in Maguindanao is pursuant to Republic Act 11550 which sought to divide the province of Maguindanao into two separate provinces.
Over 706,000 voters or 99.27 percent of more than 717,000 voters who cast their ballots in Saturday's referendum picked "yes", according to a statement of Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco on Sunday.
Only more than 5,000 or 0.73 percent of the voters opposed the division.
Maguindanao del Norte will be made up of the towns of Barira, Buldon, Datu Blah Sinsuat, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Kabuntalan, Matanog, Northern Kabuntalan, Parang, North Upi, Sultan Kudarat, Sultan Mastura, and Talitay.
Maguindanao del Sur will be composed of the municipalities of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdullah Sangki, Datu Anggal Midtimbang, Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Datu Montawal, Datu Paglas, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Datu Unsay, Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun, Guindulungan, Mamasapano, Mangudadatu, Pagalungan, Paglat, Pandag, Rajah Buayan, Shariff Aguak, Shariff Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan, and South Upi.
The capital towns of Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur shall be the municipalities of Datu Odin Sinsuat and Buluan, respectively. (PNA)
