Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region

The Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR), also known as the Bangsamoro Police, is the regional office of the Philippine National Police meant to cover the whole Bangsamoro autonomous region.

Philippine National Police Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
Seal
Abbreviation	PNP PRO BAR
Motto	Courage, Unity, Justice
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Bangsamoro (excluding 63 Bangsamoro barangays in Cotabato), Philippines
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Agency executive	Francis Gorobia Tria^[1], Regional Director (OIC)
Parent agency	Philippine National Police
Website
proarmm.pnp.gov.ph

History

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

 

Logo as the PNP PRO ARMM.

The history of the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region is traced back to the establishment of the Fourth Philippine Constabulary Zone of the Philippine Constabulary in 1971. In the same year, the headquarters of the constabulary unit, Camp Brigadier General Salipada K Pendatun was set up which would later be the main camp of the PRO BARMM. In 1990, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) was formed and the Police Regional Office Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO ARMM) was activated the following year.^[2]

Bangsamoro

When the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) succeeded the ARMM, the PRO ARMM was reorganized as the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO BARMM).^[3] Since the Bangsamoro autonomous region had a slightly larger scope than its predecessor, the new police regional office had to expand its jurisdiction as well. They were previous proposals to create an independent police force for the region, but did not materialized.^[4]

On April 29, 2019, the PRO BARMM had started its gradual takeover of additional areas. They started supervising the Cotabato City Police which is still administratively under the control of Police Regional Office 12.^[5] They also began planning on how to put the barangays in Cotabato that are part of Bangsamoro under their jurisdiction.^[3]

The National Police Commission approved the reorganization of the police department into the Philippine Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) in September 2019 which also placed the Cotabato City police under the department's jurisdiction. The municipal police over the 63 Bangsamoro barangays in Bangsamoro remains outside the scope of the Bangsamoro police until the barangays are reorganized into new municipalities or merged with existing municipalities in Bangsamoro.^[6]

Directors

• John Guyguyon (2022–2023)^[1]
• Francis Gorobia Tria (2023–present; OIC)^[1]

References

1. Unson, John (March 30, 2023). "BARMM regional police chief arrested for 'syndicated estafa'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
2. "History". PNP PRO ARMM. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
3. Unson, John (March 25, 2019). "Cotabato City cops can join BARMM or transfer to PRO-12". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 26, 2019. The PRO-BARMM, originally PRO-ARMM, covers Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur, both in mainland Mindanao, and the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
4. Revita, Juliet (August 3, 2018). "Bangsamoro police to still under PNP". Sun Star. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
5. Unson, Johm (April 30, 2019). "BARMM police now in control of Cotabato City". NDBC News. Retrieved May 24, 2019.
6. Chavez, Chito (September 24, 2019). "Napolcom approves reorganization, renaming of PRO ARMM to PRO BAR". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved September 25, 2019.