COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Government entered into an agreement with the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) for the conduct of the latter’s Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) for the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim and NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairperson and Executive Officer Alberto Bernardo signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) through a video conference on Thursday, April 7.
The exams will be held in the cities of Cotabato and Zamboanga on the proposed date May 29, 2022.
A total of 5,060 successful examinees will be granted an eligibility for temporary appointment as Patrolman or Patrolwoman of the Philippine National Police (PNP); said eligibility cannot be used for other positions in the Civil Service.
“When we received the NAPOLCOM Resolution No. 2022-0081, dated February 8, 2022 to conduct the NSQEE, we responded immediately for our willingness to sponsor review and administrative coach for the conduct of the said examinations,” Chief Minister Ebrahim said.
Ebrahim mentioned that he issued an executive order organizing an AdHoc Office under the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), to be headed by Senior Minister Abdulraof Macacua, to facilitate administrative support in the application process set forth in the NAPOLCOM resolution.
The Chief Minister also commended and congratulated the Intergovernmental Relations Body Technical Working Group (IGRB-TWG) on their efforts for the realization of the provision in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) allowing the MILF and MNLF to join PNP.
Article 11, Section 2, Paragraph 3 of the BOL provides that: “To facilitate entry into the PNP of MILF and MNLF members from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the age, height and educational attainment requirements may be waived by the NAPOLCOM, subject to existing rules and regulations: Provided, That such shall be availed of within a period of five (5) years from ratification of this Organic Law: Provided, further, That the requirement of educational attainment shall be complied within fifteen(15) years from their entry: Provided, finally, That their ranks and grades shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations governing the PNP.”
“After 3 years of the transition period, we are happy that we are finally taking the first step into making this provision a reality,” Ebrahim said.
Meanwhile, Senior Minister Macacua said the MILF and MNLF are working together to come up with the qualified members who could avail of the said provision.
“I am honored to witness the signing of MOA on the conduct of NSQEE which signaled the fruitful partnership between the Bangsamoro Government and the NAPOLCOM in ensuring that the entry into the PNP will be facilitated and taken care of,” Macacua said.
As a response, NAPOLCOM Vice-Chairman Bernardo said the entry of the MILF and MNLF members in the PNP will result to positive changes at various levels.
“At a personal level, the lives of the 5,060 individuals and their families can change for the better as they benefit to the stable career in the police service. They will undergo rigorous training to broaden their minds, sharpen their skills, and deepen their value to become professionals,” Bernardo said.
At the community level, Bernando said the residents will feel more safe and secured, adding further that “a nation that is safe and secure can obtain inclusive growth faster, (whereas) areas where (there is) conflict are less developed.”
“Ultimately, Filipino wins every time former combatants are mainstreamed into our society, Filipino nation wins every time the conflict is resolved and transformed into just and lasting peace,”Bernando said.
General qualifications for taking the NSQEE are as follows:
- a citizen of the Philippines;
- bonafide membership in the MILF or MNLF (a certification from the Chairs of MILF and MNLF);
- diplomas or certificates evidencing completion of at least four (4) years of high school studies from a secondary school under the previous four-year high school program, or junior high school under the K to 12 Basic Education Program, or its Alternative Learning System (ALS) Accreditation and Equivalency Program accredited by the Department of Education (DepEd) or by the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE);
- Must not be below 20 nor over 34 years of age (must present certificate of Live Birth duly authenticated by the Philippine Statistics Authority, or issued by the local civil registrar, or affidavit of two (2) disinterested persons); and
- For male applicants at least 1.57 meters in height and for female applicants, at least 1.52 meters. For height waivers for Cultural Minorities, male applicants must be at least 1.52 meters in height while female applicants must be at least 1.45 meters. (Kasan M. Usop, Jr./BIO)
