Cordillera security force nixed

Both the Consultative Committee (ConCom) and House Bill 5343 or the Cordillera Autonomy bill have the same stand that there should be no regional peacekeeping force for Cordillera.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan, who chairs the Regional Development Council (RDC) said Wednesday that the bill now pending before the committee in the House of Representatives does not provide for the creation of a regional peacekeeping force.

He said this to belie information that once the region becomes an autonomous region or a federal region upon the ratification of the Constitution giving way for a shift to federalism, the peace and order as well as the security of the Cordillera will be handled by a regional security force.

He explained that what is embodied in the House bill is for the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to handle security concerns.

This, he said, conforms to the draft Constitution that the ConCom will transmit to President Duterte before he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the third Monday of July.

“I am sorry if there were those who were deceived by some groups promoting themselves, recruiting members enticing people to join and will become the regional security force but it is not true,” said Domogan.

He said the RDC did not ask for it, nor is it sought in the draft Constitution.