President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., shakes hand with one of the Philippine National Police (PNP) recruits during the graduation ceremony of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) quota on April 29, 2024 in Camp Brigadier General Salipada Pendatun, Parang Maguindanao del Norte. (Abdulaziz Mama/BIO)
MAGUINDANAO DEL NORTE—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the members of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to the police force today, April 29, during the graduation of Bangsamoro Police Basic Course Batch 2023-01 class of Alpha Bravo “BAKAS-LIPI” at the Municipality of Parang here.
The President personally witnessed the graduation ceremony of 100 new police recruits comprised of 92 males and eight females which was part of the provision of the Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organically Law (BOL) that stipulated the policing in the Bangsamoro.
In his keynote message addressed to the graduates, Marcos stressed that the milestone accomplished by the graduates signifies a great honor and comes with heavy responsibilities.
“Tunay na malaking karangalan ang nakamit ninyo ngunit kaakibat nito ang mabigat na pasanin na respnsibilidad na nangangailangan ng matinding pagsisikap. Ang inyong misyon ay higit pa sa paglilingkod at pangangalaga sa mga kababayan natin. Kayo ang tutulong sa pagsusulat ng isang bagong yugto para sa Bangsamoro tungo sa mas tahimik at matiwasay na kinabukasan,” the President said.
[What you have achieved is indeed a great honor but it comes with a heavy burden of responsibility that requires great effort. Your mission is more than serving and caring for our countrymen. You will help write a new era for the Bangsamoro towards a more peaceful and secure future.]
He added that the training and the graduation ceremony are more that just fulfilling the obligations stipulated in the BOL.
“Napakalaki ng nakasalalay sa inyong bagong katungkulan dahil nasa kamay ninyo ang pagkamit ng ating patuloy na tagumpay,” he said.
[A great deal depends on your new position as you have in your hands the achievement of our continued success.]
Brief background of the policing in Bangsamoro
Following the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in 2019, the Bangsamoro Government headed by Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim entered into an agreement with the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) on April 7, 2022 for the conduct of the latter’s Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) for the members of the MILF and MNLF.
Under the said agreement, 5,060 individual were expected to join the Philippine National Police (PNP) in staggered basis.
In 2023, NAPOLCOM released its Resolution 2023-0380, which approved the recommendation of the PNP to allocate 400 slots in its recruitment to former members of the MILF and MNLF and is guided by the BOL.
After two years since the MOU signing, the agreement has yielded its first batch of graduates with 294 remaining full-fledged police force completing their basic recruit course.
According to PNP, the graduates will undergo another six months of training called PNP Field Training Program (FTP) wherein they will have actual experience of primarily police duties such as patrolling, traffic, and investigation works.
The ceremony today was witnessed by Chief Minister Ebrahim, Budget and Management Secretary Ameenah Pangandaman, Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., PNP Chief Rommel Marbil, and other key officials. (Abdullah Matucan/BIO)
