MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said it does not see any security risk arising from the integration of former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) into the police force.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the integration of 100 former Moro guerillas who completed the six-month field training course to join the PNP is a symbol of their transformed lives and a chance for them to serve their homeland -- the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Umaasa tayo na niyakap nila itong pagbabago sa kanilang buhay ay inaasahan natin sila rin yung nagsisilbing ehemplo ng kanilang mga kapwa nila mga dating nasa kabilang panig ng pakikipaglaban sa gobyerno (We are optimistic that this change in their lives that they embraced would be an example for their former comrades who are still fighting the government),” Fajardo said during a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
On Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the graduation ceremony of the Bangsamoro Police Basic Recruit Course Batch 2023-01 Classes Alpha-Bravo ‘BAKAS-LIPI’ at Camp Pendatun, Parang town, Maguindanao del Norte
“No less than the President mentioned in his speech that this is the start of the reforms especially in conflict areas in Mindanao. It is because those who used to fight the government now embraced our aspiration for lasting peace and order in the BARMM,” Fajardo said.
She said the 100 new PNP personnel from the first batch of MILF and MNLF applicants -- consisting of 92 men and eight women -- will be deployed in police stations as observers to expose them to actual duties and functions such as patrol phase, traffic, investigation as police officers under Field Training Program.
The new graduates will be "temporarily appointed as patrolmen and patrolwomen", in accordance with the decree of the National Police Commission.
They have up to 15 years from their date of entry into service to obtain a college degree, a requirement set by the PNP to allow them to become permanent members of the police force.
Fajardo said the second batch of 292 police recruits from MILF and MNLF, took their oath last December and are undergoing six months training for a basic recruitment course.
The entry of former MILF and MNLF members into the PNP is covered by Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which was enacted after the signing of a peace agreement between the government and the MILF. (PNA)
