THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) assured on Thursday, January 17, that the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite in the entire Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) would be peaceful with the deployment of over 20,000 security forces there.

Of the 20,384 police and military personnel deployed in the region, PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Benigno Durana Jr. said over 10,000 forces will be assigned to secure the polling centers.

He said the others will be part of quick reaction teams, reactionary standby support force and the headquarters skeletal force.

Durana said one battalion from the PNP Special Action Force and another from the Calabarzon and Central Luzon police will be on standby and would be ready to deploy should there be need for augmentation forces during the plebiscite.

The first BOL plebiscite will be held on January 21. This will cover the entire Armm, and the cities of Isabela and Cotabato.

The second plebiscite will be held on February 6, which will cover the provinces of Lanao del Norte and North Cotabato.

The BOL creates the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), which will replace the Armm. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo/SunStar Philippines)