The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has relaxed some of the rules in the entry of members of the two large Muslim rebel groups, which signed a peace agreement with the national government, into the Philippine National Police (PNP).
In the Memorandum Circular No. 2022-001, dated May 24, 2022, the Napolcom en banc has decided to waive the age, height and educational requirements for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in the integration of some of their members to the national police force.
"This is to facilitate the entry into the Philippine National Police (PNP) of qualified members within five years from the ratification of Republic Act No. 11054, also known as the Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao," the Napolcom statement read.
The age requirement for MILF and MNLF applicants, based on the memorandum, shall not be below 20 nor over 35 years of age.
For applicants belonging to a cultural community or an indigenous group, they must be at least 1.52 meters in height for male and 1.45 meters for female, provided that they secure certification of membership from the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) or from the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs (MIPA).
For the educational requirement, applicants must have completed at least four years of high school studies from a secondary school under the previous four-year high school program or Junior High School under the K-12 Basic Education Curriculum, 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).
But the Napolcom said the eligibility requirement is not covered by a waiver provision.
As such, it conducted a Special Qualifying Eligibility Examination (NSQEE) exclusively for the bona fide members of the MILF and MNLF on May 29.
From the 7,145 NSQEE passers, 5,060 will be recruited as Patrolman/Patrolwoman for the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR).
MILF and MNLF eligibles who aspire to join the PNP shall undergo and pass the PNP recruitment process which includes measure of Body Mass Index (BMI); Physical Agility Test (PAT); Physical/Psychological Examination (PPE); Physical, Medical and Dental Examination (PMDE); Drug Test (DT); Character and Background Investigation (CBI); and Final Interview. Those who complete the recruitment and selection process shall be issued temporary appointment. Permanent appointment may only be given after they meet the prescribed educational requirement of baccalaureate degree which they have to obtain within fifteen (15) years upon entry into the police service.
"Once appointed into the PNP, they shall undergo a mandatory 12-month Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) and Field Training Program (FTP) together with all the appointed police recruits of the PRO-BAR. Observance of Muslim beliefs, customs, traditions and rituals shall be respected at all times, which includes the wearing of Hijab by female recruits," the Napolcom statement read.
The memorandum also required both the Napolcom and the PNP to implement a proactive recruitment strategy in the BARMM to encourage increased local applicants for the PRO-BAR wherein 10 percent of the recruitment quota shall be reserved for female applicants.
Likewise, the Recruitment and Selection Committee in the PRO-BAR is enjoined to strictly follow the sequential steps in the processing of applicants to ensure that only those who passed the previous stage shall be allowed to proceed to the next step.
The memorandum also stated that general qualifications and waivers for appointment provided thereon shall be applicable only to MILF and MNLF members who shall apply to the PNP within the five-year prescribed period.
"Thereafter, applicants must comply with the existing general qualifications and waivers for appointments governing the PNP as provided for under R.A. No. 6975 (PNP Law), as amended by R.A. No. 8551 (PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998)," the statement added.