The Philippine National Police (PNP) has begun reviewing the applications of members of two of the country’s top Moro fronts who wish to gain entry into Philippine National Police (PNP).

On April 27, 2022, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) signed an agreement that will allow qualified Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation (MNLF) members to take the NAPLOCOM Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE).

Article 11, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) states: “To facilitate entry into the PNP of MILF and MNLF members from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the age, height, and educational attainment requirements may be waived by the NAPOLCOM, subject to existing rules and regulations: Provided, That such shall be availed of within a period of five (5) years from the ratification of this Organic Law: Provided, further, That the requirement of educational attainment shall be complied within fifteen(15) years from their entry: Provided, finally, That their ranks and grades shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations governing the PNP.”

Out of 11,033 examinees, a total of 7,145 or 64.77% of MILF and MNLF members successfully passed the NSQE held last May 29, 2022 in the cities of Cotabato and Lamitan.

Four hundred bests for PNP- PRO BAR

According to PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, the PNP has begun processing the list of endorsed applications according to a news release from Camp Crame and posted on the official Facebook page of the government-run Radyo Pilipinas.

“The applicants would have to pass the body mass index (BMI) test, physical agility test, psychological examination, physical and dental examination,” Fajardo said.

She noted that out of the more than 11,000 examinees, around 7,000 passed the qualifying exams but only 1,000 — 700 from MILF and 300 from the MNLF — of them were endorsed by the Bangsamoro government, which is one of the major requirements for their entry.

Their entry is governed by the quota system in the Police Regional Office-BAR wherein only 400 slots are available.

The age requirement for MILF and MNLF applicants, based on the memorandum, shall not be below 20 or over 35 years of age.

For applicants belonging to a cultural community or an indigenous group, they must be at least 1.52 meters in height for males and 1.45 meters for females, provided that they secure a certification of membership from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) or from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA).

For the educational requirements, applicants must have completed at least four years of high school studies from a secondary school under the previous four-year high school program or Junior High School under the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum, or its Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Program accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) or by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE).

Fajardo said that those who were endorsed will be subjected to background checks to determine if they are facing criminal charges.

She added those who would pass the physical and medical exams will then undergo one year and another six months of field training.

PNP expects the completion of the recruitment process before the end of this year, adding that all those who would be recruited will be assigned to PRO-BAR.

Those who would be able to proceed with their application will be prioritized for the subsequent recruitment.

Testament of the government’s pursuit of a just and lasting peace

The transformation of former combatants into productive members of society in the Bangsamoro region is a testament of the government’s efforts to push forward and build on the gains of the Bangsamoro peace process, Presidential Adviser on the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

“The entry of qualified MILF and MNLF members into the PNP will help realize the meaningful transformation process for these former combatants, and is a testament to our collective aspiration of bringing a just and lasting peace to the region and to the whole country,” Galvez said.

The peace adviser said the entry of former MILF and MNLF combatants into the PNP would help uplift their lives and hasten their transition as reformed, peaceful and productive members of society.

“To our dear MILF and MNLF aspirants, may Allah (SWT) grant you the wisdom, strength, and fortitude to successfully complete and pass the selection process so that you will have the opportunity to serve and protect your people, and become instruments of peace, reconciliation, and unity across the country,” Galvez said.

Meanwhile, for Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman, said the national and BARMM governments’ “harmonious working relations have resulted in productive technical working groups, public-oriented decisions that will have lasting benefits, and strategic intergovernmental mechanisms, among others.”

Pangandaman, who serves as co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relaions Body (IGRB), bared that a technical working group (TWG) is now discussing the entry of MILF and MNLF members to the PNP.

“To reinforce the work we are doing, the national government, through the Department of Budget and Management, already released to the Bangsamoro Government the block grant of BARMM amounting to Php 64.8 billion and the Special Development Fund amounting to Php 5.0 billion to rebuild, rehabilitate, and develop conflict-affected communities in the region,” Pangandaman said during the IGRB’s meeting earlier this month.

Peacebuilding through education, community-driven dev’t

To strengthen the resilience for peace of communities and vulnerable groups, he said the agency is also promoting the Human Fraternity Document signed by Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in 2019.
Mayor said the OPAPRU has also partnered with the Ateneo de Davao university to implement the Madaris Volunteer Program, which aims to fostering an environment of shared learning, respect, and cooperation between Islamic and Catholic schools.

“The OPAPRU aims to promote and integrate the principles of the Human Fraternity Document into the peacebuilding initiatives of various learning institutions and its other peace partners. This is critical in our agency’s efforts to establish the structures of positive peace,” he said.

Mayor said the agency, through its Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA Program, continues to carry out high-impact, socio-economic interventions in conflict-affected communities throughout the country, with a major focus in Mindanao.

“From 2017 to 2023, the national government has allocated Php 19.94 billion, of which more than Php 3-billion was invested to fund nearly 2,000 community-driven development sub-projects, and 1,337 sustainable livelihood program sub-projects across Mindanao,” he said.

Crucial role of international dev’t community in peacebuilding and dev’t

Meanwhile, Purisima lauded the international donor community for the crucial role it has played in sustaining the gains of the comprehensive Philippine peace process, especially in the Bangsamoro region.

“Through the various development and peacebuilding initiatives you have carried out over the years, you are helping the national government in creating a climate that is conducive to peace, development, and economic prosperity. For this, we are most thankful,” he said.

“We are looking forward to continue partnering and working with you, as we build the foundations where genuine peace and sustainable development can take root and flourish,” Purisima said.” ###