ALL 102 former Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front members who were commissioned as patrolmen/patrolwomen of the Philippine National Police (PNP) last week have undergone very tight screening to ensure they are the most qualified ex-rebels to join the police force, the Journal Group learned on Sunday.

The rigid qualifying examinations and physical and psychological tests ensured the 102 — composed of 94 males and eight females –are fit to serve the organization.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr. described the oathtaking of the 102 as a ‘landmark event’ which also signified the commitment of the DILG and the PNP headed by General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. to forge real peace and unity in the land.

The 102 former MNLF and MILF regulars took their oath of office as new patrolmen and patrolwomen before PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant General Rhodel O. Sermonia in the presence of Abalos at the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) in Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte.

In his speech, Abalos encouraged the newly-minted police officers to be champions of good governance and exemplars of bravery and responsibility.

“Dala ninyo ang uniporme ng Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas, dala ninyo ang mukha ng gobyerno. Mabigat na hamon, pero kami ay nagtitiwala sa inyo. Tayong lahat ay magkakapatid, importanteng labanan natin ang kriminalidad, labanan natin ang mga nang-aapi, proteksyunan natin ang nangangailangan ng tulong. Ito ay dapat natin isapuso dahil at the end of the day, lahat tayo ay Pilipino. Lahat tayo ay sama-sama sa ating minamahal na bansang Republika ng Pilipinas,” Abalos said.

The event was described as the culmination of a journey that began on April 7, 2022, with a groundbreaking agreement between the BARMM government and the National Police Commission.

The agreement paved the way for eligible members of the MNLF and the MILF to take the Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination.

The examination endorsed by NAPOLCOM Resolution No. 2022-0081, marked the entrance of distinguished members of the two former separatist groups into the esteemed ranks of Patrolmen and Patrolwomen within the PNP.

The journey continued on May 29, 2022, when a remarkable 7,145 out of 11,033 examinees constituting an impressive 64.77% from the MILF and MNLF, successfully passed the NSQEE conducted in Cotabato and Lamitan City in Basilan

Throughout the process, the PRO BAR headed by Brigadier Gen. Allan C. Nobleza played a pivotal role, hosting the launch of the Recruitment Program for MNLF/MILF Members’ entry into PNP Calendar Year 2023 on June 20 this year.

A total of 1,249 candidates, backed by the endorsement of the Bangsamoro government, received QR codes, a cornerstone requirement for their entry into the program. Among them, 882 were from the MILF while 367 proudly represented the MNLF.

In the following stages of the recruitment process, 1,134 candidates were deemed fit to proceed after successfully passing assessments including Body Mass Index (BMI) evaluation and a rigorous physical agility test that tested their endurance and commitment.

A comprehensive medical assessment followed, including psychological and psychiatric examinations, General Physical and Dental Examinations, and Drug Tests.

In a testament to their determination and dedication, a total of 102 candidates—52 members of the MILF and 50 from the MNLF—successfully passed the final screening committee’s deliberations.

Sermonia led the oath-taking.

“Today’s oath-taking is a product of cooperation. A collective commitment of all the parties involved. The processes involved in putting into effect the provisions of R.A. No. 11054, otherwise known as the Bangsamoro Organic led to the incorporation of MILF and MNLF members in the PNP,” the official said.

“ It is an evolving process and a continuing experience for all of us peace advocates and stakeholders. I want to thank our young Filipino Muslims for rejecting the path of radicalism, violent extremism, and terrorism and for choosing the path of peace and public service,” he added.

The event not only marked a significant milestone in the history of the PNP but also represented a step forward in promoting unity, inclusivity, and peace among the diverse communities of the Philippines, said PNP Public Information Office chief, Brigadier Gen. Redrico A. Maranan.

The PNP leadership last year ordered the screening committee to particularly look into the age of the applicants who will be given 15 years to complete their college education as provided by the law which also gives them the right to be assigned outside of Mindanao in the near future.

Officials led by former PNP chief, now retired Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. earlier reerred to the MILF and MNLF combatants who are supposed to be with ages ranging from 30 and above.

“Kung 21-23-years old lang siya, papano siya naging combatant? Dapat malaman natin ano talaga ang definition ng word combatant dito kasi nga ni-relax na natin ang age, eligibility, educational attainment and others para sa mga MILF and MNLF applicants,” he explained.

The former PNP chief said they wanted the concerns to be thoroughly discussed particularly when it comes to revisiting the rules of the ad hoc committee since it would be unfair if the 102 would only be confined to BARMM when the law says that the police force is national in character.

The PNP chief said that he wanted that those who are really qualified join the PNP’s regular recruitment program. “Isa pa, yung faceless/nameless recruitment process natin ay lalong dapat ma-implement dito para mabawasan yung outside influence,” he explained.

Over 7,000 members of the MILF and the MNLF passed a Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination administered by the National Police Commission last May 29.

Officials told the Journal Group that the rigid screening of the qualified applicants is needed since more than 5,000 of them will be allowed to join the force and become real peacekeepers with the rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman from being former MILF or MNLF ‘warriors.’

Around 65 percent or 7,145 of the total 11,033 MILF and MNLF members passed the Napolcom’s SQEE which was supervised by the Professional Regulations Commission in the cities of Cotabato and Lamitan in Basilan province.

Cabinet Secretary of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Mohd Asnin Pendatun last May 29 said the regional government was very grateful they had a high passing rate during the qualifying exam.

The official also dispelled speculations that ‘bribery’ occurred during the recruitment of the PNP aspirants who were certified as legitimate MILF and MNLF members.

In August last year, the Napolcom relaxed some of the rules on the entry to the police force of members of the two large Muslim rebel groups which signed a peace agreement with the national government.

In its Memorandum Circular No. 2022-001, the Napolcom en banc decided to waive the age, height and educational requirements for the MILF and MNLF in the integration of some of their members to the national police force.

“This is to facilitate the entry into the Philippine National Police (PNP) of qualified members within five years from the ratification of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” the Napolcom said.

The age requirement for MILF and MNLF applicants, based on the memorandum, shall not be below 20 nor 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 male and 1.45 meters for female, provided that they secure certification of membership from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) or from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA).

For the educational requirement, 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).

Other officials said the entry of the MILF and MNLF members into the PNP is “a big leap in achieving a long-lasting peace in Mindanao’ while some said that some of the Napolcom eligibility requirements were adjusted “to adopt measures to ensure that only legitimate members of the MILF and MNLF will benefit from the special qualifying exam.”

The Napolcom-BARMM office said that 5,060 successful examinees will be granted eligibility for temporary appointment as patrolman or patrolwoman of the PNP.

The decision to allow the entry of qualified MILF and MNLF members into the national police force has been cited as a realization of the Bangsamoro Organic Law or BOL which was enacted to pave the way for a lasting peace in Mindanao.

Article 11, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the BOL stipulates that “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 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.”