294 MILF, MNLF former combatants now members of PNP

At least 294 former combatants from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front have pledged to become regular members of the Philippine National Police in pursuit of attaining a comprehensive Bangsamoro peace process.

In a statement on Friday, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the 294 MILF and MNLF who recently took their oath as patrol officers on 28 December are the second batch of PNP recruits who passed the National Police Commission or NAPOLCOM Special Qualifying Eligibility.

He assured that the new set of police officers underwent a rigorous screening process including body mass index tests, physical agility tests, as well as psychological physical, and dental examinations.

Galvez cited the event as part of the MILF and MNLF members' complete transition from being combatants into peacekeepers in Mindanao.

"As the pioneering batch of MILF and MNLF members who will be joining the ranks of the PNP as full-pledged police officers, you are all trailblazers within your respective organizations. You have paved the way for your other comrades who wish to follow in your footsteps in the future," he said.

In accordance with the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the NAPOLCOM issued Resolution No. 2022-0081 — "Prescribing NAPOLCOM Special Qualifying Eligibility as Appropriate Eligibility for Temporary Appointment to the Rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman in the PNP for members of the MILF and MNLF."

After the issuance of the resolution, at least 1,062 individuals registered for the NSQE examination that was held on 29 May 2022.

A total of 7,145 applicants, composed of 2,183 MNLF and 4,962 MILF members, passed the pre-requisite exam.

The Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has previously allocated 400 slots for police personnel with only only 102 applicants made it to the final stages of the NAPOLCOM screening process.

The first batch of new police force members from the MILF and MNLF took their oath to PNP patrolmen and patrolwomen on 10 August this year.

Galvez said the integration of MILF and MNLF members into the PNP has given a major boost to the Bangsamoro peace process.

"As you now don the uniform of the PNP, we can say that you have come full cycle. from being former combatants, you first made the transition as peaceful and productive civilians, and now have finally entered the country's police organization as bonafide members," he told the new PNP members.

He then pointed out that the recruitment process "is a testament that the foundations of peace have been laid and are now firmly taking root."

"This ceremony symbolizes the government of the Philippines, MILF, and MNLF's steadfast determination to push forward, building on and sustaining the gains of peace in the Bangsamoro," he added.

For his part, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., who chairs the NAPOLCOM, said the recruitment process was "transparent, stringent and most of all fair, wherein the successful MILF and MNLF candidates made it based on their own merits."

"Walang pwedeng magsabi na ito ay palakasan. Walang pwedeng magsabi na ito ay binayaran (No one can say this is based on powers. No one can that this was paid). We made sure na hindi ganoon (its not like that)," Abalos stressed.

Abalos urged the latest PNP recruits "to never give up and remain strong" amidst the challenges they will be facing as they undergo training and prepare for deployment in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

"You will be training physically, and mentally to become instruments of peace. Undeniably, you will face challenges, hardships, and struggles. At the end of this road, there is a triumph. Kung merong bagyo, merong araw. Kung may kadiliman, merong kalinawan," he said.