ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Police Regional Office for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has deployed over 1,200 policemen to oversee 233 Commission on Elections checkpoints spread all over Maguindanao province in preparation for the scheduled plebiscite on 17 September.

PRO-BAR director P/Brig. Gen. John Gano Guyguyon disclosed that PRO-BAR has already adopted appropriate security preparations and measures for the upcoming plebiscite.

He said that a total of 1,209 policemen have already been deployed in the entire Maguindanao province to man Comelec checkpoints in the province and were tasked to oversee the implementation of the ban on carrying or transporting firearms and deadly weapons from 16 August to 24 September as per Comelec Resolution number 10797.

During a conference on the Presentation of Security Plan for Maguindanao Plebiscite on Monday, PRO-BAR said it has adopted stricter security measures by placing more checkpoints in strategic areas in the province to boost police visibility.

The security measures undertaken by the PRO-BAR will address the security concerns of voters in the 36 municipalities who will vote for or against the division of Maguindanao into two provinces — Maguindanao del Sur and Maguindanao del Norte.

Maguindanao comprises 36 municipalities, subdivided into 508 barangays and has a population of 1,667,258, according to the 2020 census.

In the plebiscite, Maguindanao del Norte will be composed of the municipalities 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, on the other hand, will be composed of Ampatuan, Buluan, Datu Abdulla 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, Sharif Aguak, Sharif Saydona Mustafa, Sultan sa Barongis, Talayan and South Upi.

The designated capital for Northern Maguindanao will be Datu Odin Sinsuat while the designated capital of Southern Maguindanao will be Buluan.