Over 100 ex-MILF, MNLF fighters join PNP

A total of 102 former fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) are now members of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

In a statement Thursday, the PNP said 52 are from the MILF and 50 are from the MNLF. Of the total number, 94 are male and eight are female. They all obtained the rank of patrolman.

The PNP said the former rebels took their oaths in a ceremony in the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR) at Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte on Thursday.

The membership process of former rebels in the PNP is in accordance with the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), it added.

On April 7, 2022, the Bangsamoro government and the National Police Commission signed an agreement allowing MILF and MNLF fighters to take the Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination to be part of the national police force.

The PNP said 7,145 or 64.77% of the 11,033 examinees passed the special exams that were conducted in Cotabato and Lamitan.

On June 20 this year, the PROBAR hosted the recruitment program for the entry of the MILF and MNLF fighters into the PNP. A total of 1,249 candidates were endorsed by the Bangsamoro government, including 882 from the MILF and 367 from the MNLF.

Only 1,134 candidates were deemed fit to proceed after passing assessments including Body Mass Index (BMI) evaluation and a rigorous physical agility test, the PNP said.

These tests were followed by comprehensive medical assessment such as psychological and psychiatric examinations, general physical and dental examinations, and drug tests.

Only 102 passed the final screening committee's deliberations, the PNP said.

"Dala ninyo ang uniporme ng Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas, dala ninyo ang mukha ng gobyerno. Mabigat na hamon, pero kami ay nagtitiwala sa inyo,” said  Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, who was guest of honor in the ceremony.

(You are carrying the PNP uniform and the face of the government. This is a heavy challenge but we trust you.) —Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA Integrated News