Police ramp up security for reported ‘huge political rally’ in Cotabato

INQUIRER files

COTABATO CITY — Police authorities beefed up security at the Bangsamoro Government Center (BGC) here on Wednesday following intelligence reports of an alleged huge rally by supporters of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP).

The organization is the political party of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

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The BGC is the seat of power of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), housing the Office of the Chief Minister and other ministries and agencies under the Bangsamoro government.

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Colonel Jibin Bongcayao, Cotabato City Police Office director, said at least 100 police personnel were deployed to secure the BGC complex after receiving information about a planned gathering of UBJP supporters.

Bongcayao said that no organization had formally applied for a permit to conduct a political rally in the city as of Wednesday.

However, intelligence reports indicated the possibility of a significant assembly, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures, he added.

“Nobody applied for a permit to hold political rallies, but we have intelligence information that there might be a big rally, so we prepared for it,” Bongcayao told reporters.

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The heightened security comes after the a group called ‘Move for Peace Now!’ led a political rally in Mendiola, Manila on Monday.

The members called for the appointment of the government’s Peace Implementing Panel chairperson for the Bangsamoro peace process, the reinstatement of MILF chairman Ahod Balawag Ebrahim as interim chief minister of the BARMM, and the restoration of the MILF-led Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).

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The BTA, an interim body tasked to govern the Bangsamoro government, is an 80-member body, with 41 seats allotted for the MILF and the rest by government nominees, according to the provisions of Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

To ensure peace and order, authorities deployed on Wednesday morning police forces, including anti-riot personnel and members of civil disturbance management units, within and around the BGC in response to intelligence reports of an impending political rally.

As of 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, no rally was held at the vicinity of BGC as the regional government continued its normal operations.

Last Monday, police also deployed troops to the BGC as a rally was reportedly going to be simultaneously held with that of the Move for Peace Now! in Mendiola.

Bongcayao said this alleged planned protest did not materialize.

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Based on the police intelligence report, the mass action would push through on Wednesday instead, prompting the deployment of troops anew. /apl