A total of 294 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have officially taken their oath as new members of the Philippine National Police on December 28, in a ceremony held at the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) in Parang Municipality. (Marhom Ibrahim/BIO)
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE— A total of 294 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have officially joined cadres of men in uniform of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in an oathtaking ceremony held on Dec. 28, at the Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO BAR) in Parang town.
The ceremony, which was personally attended by Secretary Atty Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), is part of the provision of the Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organically Law (BOL) which stipulated the policing in the Bangsamoro region.
In his inspirational message delivered before the recruits, Abalos emphasized that their uniforms which symbolized serving the Philippines are not just about prestige but rather how to become an instrument of peace.
“Remember this, it’s not all about strength, it’s not all about stamina. Being strong is not all about the physical strength but rather it’s more of how to be humane,” Abalos said.
Abalos cited that cops should be an instrument of peace. He hypothetically said that if two people are fighting in front of a police officer, they should be instruments of peace and refrain from tension escalating.
On August 10 this year, 102 men and women from the MILF and the MNLF comprised the first batch of PNP recruits have also taken their oath before Abalos and subsequently have their mandatory PNP training. With the additional 294 recruits yesterday, this brought a total of 396 additional forces to the men in uniform as patrolmen and patrolwomen under a temporary appointment status.
Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, who was represented by Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain, said he was elated to see the new batch of recruits joining the PNP forces further reminding them of their purpose in joining the PNP.
“Let your oath be a constant reminder that you all have a bigger mission and purpose, and that is to be of service to your fellow countrymen,” Ebrahim said. He also affirmed that the Bangsamoro Government is fully supportive of the police endeavors that would be beneficial to the people that they will serve.
Right after the ceremony, the recruits were turned over to the regional training center for their mandatory six-month training. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
