FROM former warriors to real peacekeepers. This is what the country should expect as the government screens thousands of certified members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Moro National Liberation Front who will be allowed to join the Philippine National Police should they pass a National Police Commission examination held last May 29 in Zamboanga and Cotabato cities.

PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr. said they are partnering with the Napolcom in carefully screening the applicants who will pass the May 29 conduct of a Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) exclusively for members of the MILF and the MNLF. The walk-in filing and processing of the applications started last April 21 and ended on May 13.

The examinees were previously given an orientation on the guidelines for entry into the PNP as well as the requirements they need to take the NSQEE. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao government partnered with the PNP and the Napolcom in giving the orientation to the MILF and MNLF members qualified to take the test.

BARMM Attorney General Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba previously highlighted the crucial role of the MILF and MNLF commanders in the successful entry of the applicants into the PNP, describing the recruitment process as a “historical one in the BARMM.”

According to Napolcom-BARMM Regional Director, Atty. Randy F. Babao, the entry of the MILF and MNLF members into the PNP is “a big leap in achieving a long-lasting peace in Mindanao.”

The official noted 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 a total of 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 (BOL) which was enacted to pave the way for a lasting peace in Mindanao.

Last April 7, BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim created an ad hoc office headed by Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua that will provide administrative support in the application process set by the Napolcom.

The BOL is the enabling law of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) that defines the requirements that MILF and MNLF members must comply with to gain entry into the PNP.

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 years from ratification of this Organic Law: Provided, further, That the requirement of educational attainment shall be complied within fifteen years from their entry: Provided, finally, That their ranks and grades shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations governing the PNP.”

“After three years of the transition period, we are happy that we are finally taking the first step into making this provision a reality,” Ebrahim said.

Allowing qualified MILF and MNLF members to join the PNP is seen as a major contributory factor to lasting peace in the region since they will be in-charge of policing in their communities, officials said.

The following are the general requirements for taking the NSQEE: A citizen of the Philippines; Bonafide membership in the MILF or MNLF: To prove this, a certificate from the chairpersons of the MILF and MNLF is required; Diplomas or Certificate certifying completion of at least four (4) years of high school education from secondary school under the previous four-year high school program or junior high school under the K to 12 Basic Education Program or its Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Program recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) or by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE);

Must not be less than 20 or more than 34 years of age (must present a Certificate of Live Birth authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority, or issued by the local civil registrar, or affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons; and for male applicants, he must be at least 1.57 meters in height, and for female applicants, at least 1.52 meters. In height waivers for Cultural Minorities, male applicants must be at least 1.52 meters tall while female applicants must be at least 1.45 meters.

Department of Interior and Local Govenrment Secretary and concurrent Napolcom chairman, Secretary Eduardo M. Año and Napolcom Commissioners Felizardo M. Serapio Jr, Atty. Jose M. Mangente, Zenonida F. Brosas and then PNP chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos signed Napolcom Resolution No. 2022-0081 which prescribed the NSQE as appropriate eligibility for temporary appointment to the rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman in the PNP for members of the MILF and the MNLF.

The three-hour examination consists of objective-type/multiple choice items on general PNP knowledge like its history, simple policing issues in BRMM.CAB, rank classification, PNP mission, vision and functions, customs and traditions and PNP core values; Philippine History; the 1987 Philippine Constitution specifically Bill of Rights and Social Justice;

English Language Proficiency including Basic Subject-Verb Agreement, Simple Reading Comprehension; Basic Synonyms and Antonyms and Basic Vocabulary; Numerical Ability including Number Series, Problem Solving, Basic Mathematics like addition, subtraction and multiplication, etc; and Basic Fraction and Percentage; and Basic Abstract Reasons (Critical, Logical, Judgement and Analytical);

Traits, values and personal attributes including gender sensitivity, gender and development, respect for women and children; Character and Traits including issues on graft and corrupt practices, respect for elders, authority and other religions, and respect for life; and Personal Attitudes like honesty, loyalty and integrity.