The country’s top cop is not convinced that the reported grenade incidents in Cotabato are connected to the historic voting on the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
In a media briefing led by Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, he said that the grenade that was found in the house of judge Angelito Rasalan may have been because of something “personal.”
“Sa ganyan, seemingly, something personal ang tinitingnan dun sa pangyayaring incident doon sa judge (Seemingly, we are looking at the incident with the judge to be something personal). It has nothing to do with the ongoing plebiscite dun,” Albayalde stated.
On Sunday, reports surfaced that two explosions from grenades were heard in the house of Rasalan. And just hours ago, grenades were also found near a high school and a polling precinct – all of which were already detonated by forces.
The incidents coincided a day and hours before the BOL plebiscite, which roused talks on the connection of the events.
However, Albayalde stressed that they are only looking at two angles in the incidents; one, it was a personal attack, two, these were only done to scare the people.
“Although sabi ko nga kung matatakot ang tao (as I said, if this is to scare the people), probably sa labas dapat, tinapon ‘to sa (the grenades should have been thrown outside or in a) public place. Pero ito mismo sa loob mismo sa (But this one was inside a) compound,” he added.
Though this was the PNP chief’s statement, he clarified that they are not entirely dismissing the possibility that these incidents are related to BOL or to terrorists.
Albayalde then told the media that despite this, they will not be adding more forces in the area as “they have enough.”
“We have more than 20, 000 personnel both from the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and the PNP. I think we have enough personnel,” he explained.
“Ang ano siguro dito is paigtingin pa ang presensya ng ating mga pulis (I think what must be done is to improve the presence of the police),” Albayalde added
He also said that when he was visiting precincts, he made a clear directive that the number of personnel inside police stations should be limited in cases of dealing with complaints, but most must be outside.