COTABATO CITY – Thousand members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) took the National Police Commission’s (NAPOLCOM) Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) on Sunday, May 29.
This is in line with the groups’ entry into the Philippine National Police (PNP) as provided in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
[Read related story: BARMM signs MOA with NAPOLCOM for special qualifying exams for MILF, MNLF members]
The examination was held at fourteen (14) different school sites, such as: Notre Dame University, Cotabato City Central Pilot School, Cotabato National High School-Main Campus, Cotabato State University, Notre Dame Village High School, Notre Dame Village Elementary School, Sero Central School, Religious of Virgin Mary (RVM), LR Sebastian High School, Tamontaka Elementary School, and Pilot Provincial Science High School and Technology – all in Cotabato City; and Lamitan National High School, Lamitan Central High School, and Claret School of Lamitan in Lamitan City, Basilan.
NAPOLCOM Commissioner Atty. Ricardo Bernabe III said the NSQEE is just one of the qualifications for joining the PNP.
“To clarify things, once they passed the NSQEE, sila ay magkakaroon ng eligibility, hindi pa sila appointed to the PNP. Ito lamang ay eligibility as part of requirements para makapasok sa PNP,” Bernabe said.
“Once na mayroon na silang eligibility, yung PNP po ay magset-up ng recruitment, so doon na sila mag-a-apply and then yung PNP na rin ang gagawa ng kanilang guidelines for the recruitment process,” he added.
Meanwhile, BARMM Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun said the NSQEE was special as it gave MILF and MNLF members a chance to be part of the police force.
“Ito po ay bilang pagtanaw sa probisyon ng Bangsamoro Organic Law, nakasaad na magkakaroon ng special entry ung ating pong mga MILF and MNLF bilang kontribusyon doon sa kanilang naging serbisyo at sakripisyo during the BARMM struggle,” Pendatun said.
“Ito ay ginawa jointly ng National Government at Bangsamoro Government through the Inter-governmental Relations Body. We assure everyone that we will do everything what we could to assure na maging smooth at maayos yung process, maibigay po natin lahat ng assistance para sa MILF and MNLF members,” he added.
One of the examinees, Sahid Lumabao, a 23-year-old senior high school graduate from Datu Odin Sinsuat, thanked the Bangsamoro Government and the PNP for giving them the opportunity to take the exam and for conducting a free exam review.
“Tuwing gabi nagbabasa ako lalong lalo na nung nabigyan kami ng review, yun talaga yung (focus) ko,” he said.
Lumabao and his father, aged 48, are members of the MNLF.
“Para sa pamilya po. Lahat naman tayo yan talaga ang hangad ay para sa pamilya,” Lumabao answered when asked on why he wants to be a police.
The exam results will be announced after 45-60 days. (Myrna Tepadan/BIO)
