At least 294 new police recruits from members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front took their oath as members of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region on Thursday morning at Camp Pendatun, Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. officially welcomed to the country's police force the 294 recruits composed of 255 men and 39 women under the MILF and MNLF recruitment program.

Abalos congratulated the new members of the Philippine National Police and urged them to live by the PNP's mantra to serve and protect the Filipino people.

"The uniform you are wearing now does not symbolize authority. It's not all about prestige and more importantly, it represents a commitment to uphold the rule of law as well as a promise to serve the community with honor and integrity," Abalos said.

The DILG chief also challenged the recruits to finish the training program and serve as inspirations to their fellow MILF and MNLF comrades as he wanted them to serve as inspiration for their former comrades to join the government and the entire Filipino citizenry in attaining peace and sustainable development.