Photo courtesy: Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region
SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao del Norte (February 4) — A new police chief has taken charge of Maguindanao del Norte at a time when public safety and security remain key concerns across the province.
Col. George Bagundol Jr. formally assumed office as director of the Maguindanao del Norte Police Provincial Office (MDN PPO following a change-of-command ceremony Monday at the provincial police headquarters in Barangay Simuay.
The ceremony was led by Brig. Gen. Jaysen de Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), who underscored the need for sustained and focused security operations.
Bagundol replaced Col. Victor Rito, who was reassigned to the PRO-BAR headquarters after overseeing the province’s peace and order efforts.
Public safety at the center
In his address, De Guzman acknowledged Rito’s contributions in maintaining law and order, particularly in communities affected by criminal activity and security threats.
He challenged Bagundol to strengthen police visibility and enforcement, stressing the need to aggressively address criminality, terrorism, and violent extremism to protect residents.
“The people of Maguindanao del Norte expect safety in their communities,” De Guzman said, urging the new police chief to pursue security operations with precision and accountability.
Security context in BARMM
Maguindanao del Norte is one of the five provinces of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and plays a strategic role in regional stability. While peace has largely improved in recent years, authorities have acknowledged the persistence of criminal groups and sporadic extremist activity in parts of the province.
Regional police officials said continued coordination with local government units, community leaders, and security partners would be crucial in preventing violence and sustaining public trust.
Expectations from new leadership
With Bagundol now at the helm, residents and local officials alike are watching how the provincial police will address long-standing security concerns, including crime prevention, rapid response to threats, and community-based policing.
De Guzman said the success of the MDN PPO would ultimately be measured by how safe people feel in their daily lives.
