NORTH COTABATO: PRO-12 deploys close to 600 cops for BOL plebiscite

COTABATO CITY – The Police Regional Office-12 (Soccsksargen) sent off Monday 582 of its personnel ahead of the conduct of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in 67 villages of North Cotabato on February 6.

In a statement, Chief Supt. Eliseo Tam Rasco, PRO-12 director, said the police personnel would be deployed to help safeguard the BOL referendum in the province together with their military counterparts.

“The contingents will be at their respective areas of responsibility from the period Feb. 4-8 until the plebiscite will be held successfully,” he said.

Rasco added that at least 100 of the policemen were trained to act as plebiscite committee members should volunteer-teachers feel threatened to serve in voting centers.

The plebiscite in North Cotabato, which has 17 municipalities, would be conducted in 67 villages situated in seven of its towns that include Aleosan, Carmen, Kabacan, Midsayap, Pigcawayan, Pikit, and Tulunan.

In his message during the send-off ceremony, lawyer Michael Abas, regional director of the Commission on Elections, thanked PRO-12 for its continued support, including the successful conduct of the BOL plebiscite in Cotabato City last January 21.

“The Comelec is confident that the plebiscite that will be held on February 6 with its affiliates from the police and the military, would be safe and successful,” Abas said before the troopers.

The PRO-12 remains in heightened alert following the Jolo, Sulu cathedral bombing last Jan. 27 that killed at least 22 people and wounded over 100 others.

Rasco said he expected the police contingent to perform its best to ensure the conduct of peaceful and orderly BOL plebiscite in North Cotabato. (PNA)