178 ex-MILF, MNLF men pass PNP hiring process

MANILA, Philippines — Only 178 of the 11,000 former members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) have passed the recruitment process of the Philippine National Police (PNP), an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said yesterday.

The recruitment by the PNP of former members of the MILF and MNLF is provided under the Bangsamoro Organic Law, DILG Undersecretary for operations Lord Villanueva said during a briefing of the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

“It was stated (in the Bangsamoro Organic Law) that the PNP would recruit former members of the MILF and MNLF. Of the 11,000 who applied, only 178 have hurdled the recruitment process. The standards were propery observed in this process,” Villanueva said.

He said the 178 PNP passers are currently undergoing training.

“The first batch is now in the middle of a six-month training process. The second batch just started a few weeks ago,” Villanueva said.

He said the PNP recruitment process includes neuro-psychiatric examinations.

“There is also character and background investigation. The recruitment is strict. This is a nameless and faceless recruitment process.  Each applicant was given a QR code, which was used in the entire procedings,” Villanueva said.

The Department of Budget and Management allowed the hiring of 400 former MILF and MNLF combatants to fill vacancies in the PNP.

Those who did not pass can try again.

The PNP allows unsuccessful applicants to take the exams three times.