Cotabato City – September 6, 2025 — The retrieval of audit documents from the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) at the Bangsamoro Government Center on September 5 has drawn mixed reactions, as the Ministry expressed alarm over the presence of heavily armed law enforcement personnel, while the Cotabato City Police Office (CCPO) maintained that it merely provided security assistance upon request of the Commission on Audit (COA)-BARMM.
At around 7:30 a.m., elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Marines, and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accompanied the COA-BARMM Special Auditing Team (SAT) in retrieving documents from the Office of the Resident COA Auditor at MBHTE. The CCPO said the operation was conducted in coordination with the 6th Infantry Division and concluded at around 11:00 a.m. The documents were turned over to the custody of the COA-SAT, led by State Auditor IV Wilson Ibrahim I. Panawidan, and transported to Tactical Operations Group 12 at Awang Airport, Maguindanao del Norte.
In a statement, MBHTE Minister Mohagher M. Iqbal raised several concerns over how the operation was carried out. He noted that the lead auditor of the COA-SAT was not present, only a photocopy of a memorandum order was presented, and no mission order from law enforcement agencies was shown. The Ministry also lamented that uniformed personnel handled the documents themselves, rather than COA staff.
“The presence of heavily armed law enforcement and military personnel in full battle gear inside the Ministry premises was uncalled for. Such an approach caused disruption of work and unnecessary fear and alarm among employees,” Iqbal said. The MBHTE added that it is reviewing the incident and will explore possible legal remedies, stressing that while it fully supports lawful auditing processes, future undertakings must be carried out with proper coordination and respect for civilian offices.
Meanwhile, the CCPO underscored that its role was limited to ensuring the security of the COA team in fulfilling its mandate. “The Cotabato City Police Office reaffirms its unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and inter-agency cooperation in support of good governance and public trust,” the police said in its own statement.
The contrasting positions highlight tensions between upholding audit accountability and ensuring that government operations are conducted in ways that preserve institutional integrity and the safety of civilian workers.