Marcos to ex-MILF, MNLF who join PNP: Guard the vulnerable, be example of bravery

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has urged former fighters of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who joined the police force to be examples of bravery and guard the vulnerable.

Marcos said this in his remarks that was read by Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos during a ceremony in the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR) at Camp Brigadier General Salipada K. Pendatun in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte last week.

“May this PNP uniform remind you of your mission to guard the vulnerable, be the champion of truth, and be that example of bravery and of responsibility,” Marcos said.

The President further told the 102 new members of the police force that their pledge of allegiance is not just for the police force, but for the entire public.

“The moment you take your oath, you pledge your allegiance not just to the Philippine National Police. You pledge your commitment and dedication to the public, to the Filipino people (whom) you promise to serve and protect,” Marcos said.

“You will be issued with arms, which you will be using for the protection of the Filipinos; the arms of protection, which you will now use with the government and not against it. Because at the end of the day, we all have that one thing we aim to achieve – lasting peace and sustainable progress,” he added.

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

Of the 102 who passed, 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. —KG, GMA Integrated News