THOUSAND of 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, 2022, officials said.
The NSQEE is in line with the groups’ entry into the Philippine National Police (PNP) as provided in the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).
Lawyer Ricardo Bernabe III, Napolcom commissioner, 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.
(To clarify things, once they passed the NSQEE, they will be eligible, not appointed to the PNP. Eligibility is part of the requirements to enter the PNP.)
“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.
(Once they will have the eligibility, it will be the PNP that will set the recruitment. They will have to apply and it will be the PNP that will set the guidelines for the recruitment process)
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.
(This is in view of the provisions of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which states that there will be special entry for members of the MILF and MNLF as part of their services and sacrifices during the Barmm struggle.)
“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.
(This is done jointly by the national government and Bangsamoro government through inter-governmental relations body. We assure everyone that we will do everything what we could to assure the smooth and orderly process in providing assistance to the MILF and MNLF members.)
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 (I read every night especially when we were given review, that is really my focus)," 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 (It is for the family. All of us, our purpose is for the family)," Lumabao answered when asked on why he wants to be a police.
The examination was held at 14 different school sites in Cotabato City and Lamitan City, Basilan.
The examination results will be announced after 45 to 60 days. (SunStar Zamboanga)