Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman praised the Philippine National Police (PNP) for enlisting nearly 300 former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Pangandaman, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Board (IGRB) for agreements between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), described the PNP's action as a significant step toward lasting peace.
Pangandaman stated, "This is a big step towards lasting peace in Mindanao," and highlighted the transformation of former adversaries into allies.
She also congratulated Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the BARMM and Secretary Carlito Galvez of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) on this achievement.
BARMM Deputy Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain credited the enlistment of former MILF and MNLF members into the PNP to the success of the Bangsamoro peace process, indicating progress and growth for the region and the entire country.
Pangandaman emphasized that among the 294 recruits, 39 are women.
Pangandaman backs former MILF, MNLF members joining PNP for peace
At a glance
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for recruiting almost 300 former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Pangandaman, co-chair of the Intergovernmental Relations Board (IGRB) for agreements between the national government and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), called the PNP's move a big step toward lasting peace.
"This is a big step towards lasting peace in Mindanao," Pangandaman said in a statement. “Ang dating magkalaban, magkakampi na ngayon [The former enemies are now allies].”
Pangandaman congratulated as well her counterpart for the BARMM, Minister Mohagher Iqbal, as well as Secretary Carlito Galvez of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Reconcilation and Unity (OPAPRU) on this achievement.
“This motivates us to work harder together and really apply a whole of government approach to find our shared dreams for BARMM,” Pangandaman said.
BARMM Deputy Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain said that the enlistment of former MILF and MNLF members into the PNP is a direct result of the Bangsamoro peace process.
He emphasized that this development signifies the effectiveness of the peace process and points toward a new direction for advancement and growth in the Bangsamoro and the entire country.
Pangandaman also noted that of the 294 recruits, 39 are women.
"This shows inclusivity also in terms of gender," the budget chief, who is the only female Muslim in the Cabinet, added.
The 294 former MILF and MNLF recruits compose the second batch of PNP new members who passed the Special Qualifying Eligibility, as well as the rigorous screening process that included a body mass index test, physical agility test, as well as psychological, physical and dental examinations.
The NSQE examinations held last May 29, 2022 saw a total of 11,062 individuals register. A total of 7,145 applicants, composed of 2,183 MNLF and 4,962 MILF members, passed the exam.