The passage of Republic Act No. 11054, otherwise known as the “Organic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” has paved the way for the members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front to join the Philippine National Police.
The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has set a Resolution that prescribes the NAPOLCOM Special Qualifying Entrance Examination (NSQE) as appropriate eligibility for Temporary Appointment to the Rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman in the Philippine National Police, exclusively for members of MNLF and MILF as stated in Napolcom Resolution No. 2022-0081 dated February 8, 2022.
The intent of para 3, Section 2, Article XI of RA No. 11054 is to facilitate the entry into PNP, members of MNLF and MILF for a period of five (5) years from the ratification of the law. This intent was made manifested by giving NAPOLCOM the mandate to grant them age, height and educational attainment waivers, subject to existing rules and regulations, to wit:
“To facilitate entry into the Philippine National Police of Moro Islamic Liberation Front and Moro National Liberation Front members from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, the age, height and educational attainment requirements may be waived by the National Police Commission, subject to existing rules and regulations: Provided, That such shall be availed of within a period of five (5) years from ratification of this Organic Law: Provided, further, That the requirement of educational attainment shall be complied within fifteen(15) years from their entry: Provided, finally, That their ranks and grades shall be subject to existing laws, rules and regulations governing the Philippine National Police.”
The members of MILF and MNLF should meet the qualification standards in order to be able to take the NAPOLCOM Special Qualifying Entrance Examination (NSQEE): a. Must be a Filipino citizen who are bona fide members of MILF or MNLF; b. Must have completed at least four (4) years of high school studies from a secondary school under a previous four-year high school program or Junior High School under a 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); c. Must not be below 20 nor above 34 years of age.
The successful passers of NSQEE will be conferred by NAPOLCOM with the eligibility which can be used solely as appropriate eligibility for the rank of Patrolman/Patrolwoman in a temporary appointment. However, this cannot be used for permanent appointments nor for promotion purposes as prescribed under NAPOLCOM Resolution No. 2022-0081.
On May 29, 2022, a total of 11,033 out of the 11,075 expected aspirant members of MILF and MNLF took the NSQEE held at Cotabato City and Lamitan City. A first-ever examination held for Moro rebels, the conduct of NSQEE was witnessed by NAPOLCOM Commissioners Edilberto DC Leonardo, Ricardo Bernabe III and Beatrice Aurora Vega-Cancio, together with Deputy Executive Director IV Myrna De-Persia Medina.
A total of 1,616 out of the 11,033 qualified exam takers were from Lamitan City, Basilan City, while 9,417 were from Cotabato City, BARMM.
This kind of opportunity for the former Moro rebels has demonstrated the sincerity of the national government has regained the rebels’ commitment to return to mainstream society as peaceful and productive civilians who now opt to serve the country as peacekeepers.
