Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. prodded the remaining 803 former Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels who want to apply to the Philippine National Police (PNP) to complete the "nameless-faceless" recruitment process.
The recruitment of the ex-rebels in the police force is part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s "inclusive peace agenda", Abalos explained.
"There will be frustrations, disappointments, pains, and a lot of sacrifices. But at the end of this process, your sacrifices will be equated with rewards and benefits. You will be wearing a legitimate and authorized uniform of the PNP. Balewala ang tagumpay kung hindi pinaghirapan,” (Success is nothing if you did not work hard for it)," Abalos stressed.
Abalos emphasized that that the nameless-faceless recruitment process of the PNP is a great opportunity for them to bounce back and turn a new chapter on their lives.
Through the nameless and faceless recruitment process of the PNP, the "palakasan" (patronage) and "padrino" system in the selection of future cops are eliminated as the organization intends to hire qualified applicants based on their skills, and not because of their connections.
“Out of the 1,279 total applicants for the second batch, 959 were able to proceed to the Body Mass Index phase which was further reduced to 851 for the Physical Agility Test (PAT) consisting of push-ups, sit-ups, and three-kilometer run. Of the 851, only 690 were able to proceed to the next phase for the Psychological and Psychiatric Exam (PPE)," the DILG stated.
“The 690 applicants will be joined by the 113 remaining applicants from the first batch to hurdle four more steps before oath taking -- CBI or Character and Background Investigation, PMDE or Physical, Mental and Dental Examinations, Drug Test, and Final Interview from Sept. 16-18, 2023. The results will be released after 15 days,’’ it added.
The PNP Recruitment and Selection Service started processing the second batch of applicants for the entry of former MILF and MNLF members into the PNP on Sept. 9.
Meanwhile, Abalos congratulated the 100 PNP recruits from the first batch of applicants last year and newly-appointed patrolmen who took their oath last month.
He urged them to fulfill the last stretch of the 24-week intensive and progressive training Police Safety Basic Recruitment Course designed for newly-appointed police non-commissioned officers.