PNP seeks eligibility review for aspiring cops from MILF, MNLF

NATIONAL POLICE Chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said he wants a review on the qualifications of the 7,000 former rebels from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who passed the May qualifying examinations to enter the police service.

MILF combatants display their weapons in this file photo taken inside a rebel base in the South. (Mark Navales)

Azurin said he wants a thorough scrutiny of their age and educational background. The entry of MILF and MNLF members in the PNP is covered by the Republic Act (RA) 11054 or the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which was enacted after the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the MILF.

The National Police Commission earlier said the age requirement for MILF and MNLF applicants shall not be below 20 and not over 35 years old. One of the major requirements for the applicants to the special qualifying exams is a certification from the MILF and the MNLF that they are indeed bonafide members of the two groups.

“So first is they should be a member of MILF kaya nga meron provision doon na they have at least 15 years to complete yung kanilang baccalaureate degree or yung college education. So ang titingnan mo diyan is tatantiyahin mo ang edad niya na kung saan yung edad dapat niya ay nagre-range siya ng 30 to at least 35 kasi combatant siya,” Azurin said.

“Pinapatingnan ko yung sa 7,000 kung ang edad niyan, say 21, 22, 23, parang mag iisip ka ngayon paano naging combatant yan, hindi ba? Kung ang mga naga-apply is less than 30 years old, why don't they just apply doon sa regular recruitment ng PNP kasi yung iba college graduate naman. The rules on age, eligibility, and the education attainment were already relaxed. So why do we have to allow the entry of those who are not really combatants or bonafide members of the MILF, MNLF," he added.

Azurin also said this will be discussed thoroughly by the PNP and National Police Commission.

In August, the National Police Commission set guidelines and procedures to facilitate the entry into the PNP of qualified members of the MILF and MNLF within five years from the ratification of RA 11054. Under Memorandum Circular No. 2022-001, dated May 24, 2022, the National Police Commission en banc prescribed the grant of waiver for age, height, and educational requirements to truly afford MILF and MNLF members the opportunity to join the police service.

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 certification of membership from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos or from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs.

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 Accreditation and Equivalency Program accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) or by the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education.

However, the eligibility requirement is not covered by a waiver provision. Thus, the Commission conducted the National Police Commission Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) exclusively for the bonafide members of the MILF and MNLF on May 29.

From the 7,145 NSQEE passers, 5,060 will be recruited as patrolman/patrolwoman for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The eligible MILF and MNLF combatants who aspire to join the PNP shall undergo and pass the PNP recruitment process which includes a measure of Body Mass Index; Physical Agility Test; Physical/Psychological Examination; Physical, Medical and Dental Examination; Drug Test; Character and Background Investigation; and Final Interview.

Those who complete the recruitment and selection process shall be issued temporary appointments. Permanent appointments may only be given after they meet the prescribed educational requirement of a baccalaureate degree which they have to obtain within 15 years of entry into the police service.

Once appointed into the PNP, they shall undergo a mandatory 12-month Public Safety Basic Recruit Course and Field Training Program together with all the appointed police recruits. The observance of Islamic beliefs, customs, traditions and rituals shall be respected at all times, which includes the wearing of the hijab by female recruits. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)